Operators warned over egg sourcing
Visitors to Hospitality 2011 are being warned that changes to egg production legislation mean that foodservice businesses may be serving illegal eggs when implemented in January 2012.
Next year battery cages will be banned and replaced by enriched cages. But with cage production currently accounting for around two thirds of production in Europe (50% in the UK) and producers struggling to meet the deadline there is the potential for illegal eggs to enter the supply chain to cater for demand.
Kevin Coles from the British Egg Information Service said that caterers should be aware that illegal eggs could still find their way into prepared products from Europe even after the deadline.
"Operators need to check traceability and think about the eggs that are going into their products be they cake, quiche or ice cream," he said. "Some 80m battery eggs are produced across Europe daily so there is real potential for shortages."
Coles said that operators should where possible specify British Lion eggs to be sure that they meet the EU Directive, particularly as it is not clear who would be liable should illegal eggs be found in a products.
"Under the British Lion scheme you are guaranteed that caged eggs will come from enriched cages," he added.