Consumer demand for the use of British egg products, and clearer labelling of the origin of eggs used in prepared foods, has increased significantly following the Fipronil scandal, according to new research.
The independent research, commissioned by British Lion Egg Processors, showed that three quarters of UK shoppers now say British eggs should always be used in prepared foods. This figure has increased from two thirds since eggs (and egg products) from farms implicated in the scandal on the continent were imported and were found to have been used in prepared food on sale in the UK, including supermarket salads, sandwich fillers and a range of catering products. More than half of shoppers are unhappy that imported eggs are currently being used.
The results also show that more than 80% of shoppers now want prepared foods to clearly show the egg country of origin on the packaging, up from 70% before the contamination became public knowledge.