Food agency amends egg safety advice

As part of a drive to cut food waste, the FSA has been reconsidering its guidance on safe use of eggs and now says that “they can be eaten a day or two after their ‘best before’ date, providing the eggs are cooked thoroughly”.

Eggs can sometimes contain salmonella bacteria and where salmonella is present, it can multiply to high levels over time and cause food poisoning. But salmonella contamination levels in UK-produced eggs are low, says the FSA, and salmonella is killed by thorough cooking – until both yolk and white are solid, or in dishes which will be fully cooked, such as cake.

The FSA announcement yesterday added: “Apart from eggs, most foods can be eaten safely after the ‘best before’ date, as this is mostly about quality. Past this date, it doesn’t mean that the food will be harmful, rather that its flavour, colour or texture, might begin to deteriorate.”

However, the different “use by” dates should still be strictly observed, said the authority.