Egg hygiene SDL

Question 1

What legislation is relevant to eggs?

Answer 1

• Commission regulation (EC) 1234/2007: covers control of eggs from Salmonella infected flocks of laying hens
• Commission regulation (EC) 617/ 2008: rules for implementing 1234/2007 as regard to marketing standards for eggs for hatching and farmyard poultry chicks
• Commission regulation (EC) 589/ 2008: rules for implementing 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs

Question 2

Who enforces egg legislation in the UK?

Answer 2

• Undertaken by Egg Marketing inspectors in England and Wales
• Eggs and poultry unit in Scotland

Question 3

Describe grade A eggs

Answer 3

• Suitable for direct human consumption
• Shell/ cuticle= normal, clean, undamaged
• Air space= no more than 6mm
• Yolk= visible when candled as a shadow
• White: clear, translucent
• They mustn’t be washed/ cleaned before grading
• Graded by weight

Question 4

What are grade B eggs?

Answer 4

Don’t meet the characteristics for direct human consumption

• Have to be heated/ pasteurised
• e.g. eggs from laying flocks which are positive for s.enteriditis ors.typhimurium

Question 5

What can be done with ungraded eggs?

Answer 5

• Can be stamped with producers code and sent for food processing/ industrial processing

Question 6

What information has to be printed on the shell?

Answer 6

• Farming method
• Country of origin
• Farm ID
• Quality standard (lion mark for UK)

Question 7

List basic information on the lion mark? (the programme)

Answer 7

• British lion quality code of practice= UK food programme launched in 1998
• Shows eggs are from laying hens that are vaccinated against S.E
• Includes auditing from facilities, on-farm and packing station hygiene controls and an effective traceability system
• All eggs produced in this code have a BBD stamped on shell
• About 85% of eggs in UK meet these standards

Question 8

What are the exceptions to egg marking?

Answer 8

• If hen eggs sold directly to the consumer for their own use:
  By producer on their own farm
  -By producer through door-door selling
  -By producer in a local public market

Question 9

How is salmonella infection of flocks prevented?

Answer 9

• Routine salmonella sampling
• Restock birds from reliable sources with negative Salmonella results in previous tests
• Provide decontaminated feed/ water
• Vaccination of flock
• Effective pest control programme

Question 10

What must each batch of imported eggs/ egg products contain?

Answer 10

• Can only come from a country approved to export the product to the EU
• Enter EU through border inspection post
• Egg products must have a public health certificate