Eggs imported from a single Ukrainian food business are being withdrawn and recalled across the UK after testing found Salmonella Enteritidis, the Food Standards Agency has said, as reported by the BBC. The agency issued a Food Alert for Action telling businesses holding the affected product to act immediately.
Key points
- Recall ordered — businesses must withdraw and recall affected Ukrainian eggs from the supply chain.
- Where they were sold — mostly through wholesalers and catering, but some reached small retailers.
- Supermarkets unaffected — the eggs on sale in the UK's big chains come from UK farms.
- Cases — the strain found was linked to 36 Salmonella cases in England in 2026.
Samples taken from eggs supplied by a business in Ukraine were tested by the UK Health Security Agency, which also performed whole genome sequencing. The results showed this strain differs from the ones driving the outbreak currently under investigation, although a link was found to the 36 cases reported in England in 2026.
Jacquelyn McCormick, Head of Incidents at the FSA, said the matter concerns only eggs from a single Ukrainian business, and she stressed that eggs produced in the UK are not affected. She urged consumers not to eat the affected eggs and businesses to withdraw them, recalling any that have already been sold at retail because they may be unsafe.
The FSA added that its existing advice on eggs not covered by the alert is unchanged: thorough cooking and hygienic handling mean such eggs should not pose a safety risk. Anyone who is pregnant, an infant or young child, or an older adult should eat raw or lightly cooked eggs only when they bear the British Lion mark or come from the Laid in Britain scheme.
Hannah Charles, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the strain found in the imported batch is genetically different to those linked to the wider outbreak investigation. She said that diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever are typical of most Salmonella infections and usually clear up without treatment, but can occasionally lead to more serious illness such as sepsis, particularly for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, older adults and young children.
What it means in practice
The recall affects a specific batch of imported eggs rather than the general supply, so most shoppers will see no change. But if you buy eggs outside the big supermarkets — from a corner shop, market stall or wholesaler — it is worth checking where they came from.
- Check your eggs — if you have imported Ukrainian eggs covered by the alert, do not eat them; throw them away at home.
- Eating out — caterers and small retailers have been told to pull the affected stock, so ask if you are unsure.
- UK eggs are fine — supermarket eggs and those carrying the British Lion mark are not part of this recall.
