Runny eggs

It all started in 1998 when Edwina Currie, a Conservative health minister, said that most eggs were infected with salmonella.

Egg sales collapsed.

Millions of chickens were slaughtered and farmers were up in arms. Currie was forced to resign two weeks after her comments.

She was eventually proved right, and the government advised against eating raw or runny eggs.

Runny eggs, however, are now pronounced safe for pregnant women, children, and elderly people to eat again, by the UK Food Standards Agency.

An expert committee has found that the presence of salmonella in British eggs is now very low.

The situation at the time was serious. Currie said: “We had about 500 cases a week of people being so ill that they were taken to hospital. They had blood poisoning, they were being put onto kidney dialysis machines, and we were losing somebody every week.

“There were about 60 people who died that year, so what would you do? Do you hide your head and pretend it isn’t happening? That wasn’t what I thought I could do”.

Vaccinating hens, testing for salmonella, improved hygiene, rodent control, and keeping eggs cool in transit have all played their part in solving the problem.

The Food Standards Agency said: “The major reduction in the risk of salmonella in British Lion eggs is testament to the work carried out by egg producers.”