In 1998 the Lion Quality Code of Practice was launched and new food safety procedures were introduced incorporating the latest research findings to ensure the highest standards of food safety in the world. These include compulsory vaccination against Salmonella Enteritidus of all pullets intended for Lion egg-producing flocks, improved traceability of eggs and a "best-before" date stamped on the shell and pack which shows that they are fresher than required by law, and on-farm and packing station hygiene controls.

A Government committee produced a report highlighting the effectiveness of poultry vaccination in reducing human salmonella cases by half. This was carried out in 2001.

More than 28,000 UK produced eggs were tested by the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and no salmonella was found inside any of them. Only nine eggs had salmonella on the shell - and these would not normally pose a health risk if the eggs were handled correctly.

This contrasts with the most recent HPA (Health Protection Agency) tests on imported Spanish eggs, of which nearly seven per cent tested positive for salmonella. Spanish eggs have also been linked with a food poisoning outbreak at a cafe in central London in 2004, with one-third of the Spanish eggs used by the cafe testing positive for salmonella!

More than 80% of UK eggs are currently produced under the industry’s voluntary Lion Code of Practice, a comprehensive programme incorporating the highest standards of food safety. British Lion egg producers now believe that two of the Lion Code’s key elements — salmonella vaccination and a ‘best before’ date stamped on every egg — should be imposed on all eggs sold in the UK.

So now you can feel safe eating eggs bought in supermarkets - and if you don't see the stamp - dont buy them!

• All hens producing Lion Quality eggs must have been vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis.
• All Lion Quality eggs have a ‘best before’ date on the box and on the egg itself, which shows that they are fresher than required by law.
• A registration and ‘passport’ system ensures complete traceability of Lion Quality eggs, hens and feed.
• There are increased hygiene controls and Salmonella testing right through the production system.
• The Code also incorporates higher standards of animal welfare than required by law.
• The Lion Code of Practice includes stringent feed controls, including production of feed to UKAS standards and the banning of growth promoters and canthaxthin.
• In January 2000 the Lion mark was also re-introduced onto the shells of eggs produced under the Lion Code of Practice.
• The Lion Quality mark on eggs and egg packs is an assurance that the eggs have been produced to standards of hygiene and animal welfare greater than those required by UK or EU law.
• The Lion Quality mark is a registered trademark and can only be used by BEIC on egg shells and egg boxes which have been produced in accordance with the Lion Code of Practice and UK and EU law.
• The Lion Code of Practice is monitored by an independent agency. Farms and packing stations are audited annually.