The United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency is warning vulnerable groups not to eat undercooked or runny eggs when dining out, following a national salmonella outbreak that has killed one person and sickened hundreds more.
The FSA told the BBC that children under five, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions should avoid runny eggs and freshly made products that might contain raw eggs, including mayonnaise, souffle, and hollandaise sauce. Well-cooked eggs from restaurants, cafes, and takeaways were described as safe to eat.
FSA chief scientific adviser Ian Young said imported eggs are suspected in the outbreak. "If people are eating out or consuming eggs or egg-containing products from cafes and restaurants then for those people in particular who are young, elderly, pregnant or vulnerable, it's important to make sure that any eggs or egg products that you consume in those settings have been very well cooked," he said.
Young also reiterated that British supermarket eggs remain safe. Chickens raised in the UK are vaccinated against common strains of salmonella. "There is no link to those eggs to this current outbreak," he said.
He described the outbreak as "unusually large and rapidly increasing" and added, "People need to be careful."
More than 200 cases have been confirmed across the UK, with the majority in England. Genetic testing indicates all infections are part of the same outbreak, and there are similarities with previous outbreaks tied to imported eggs. Investigations into individual cases also suggest that eateries involved were purchasing eggs from abroad.
Salmonella bacteria typically live in the digestive tracts of animals including cattle, pigs, and chickens. People contract it by eating contaminated food that has not been fully cooked, or through cross-contamination in the kitchen. Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever. Most people recover without treatment, but older adults, infants, and those with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness. Hospital care with fluids and sometimes antibiotics is recommended for serious cases.
Anyone concerned about symptoms is advised to contact their GP or an out-of-hours service.