SCOTTISH consumers are being urged to choose home-produced eggs following a serious Salmonella outbreak in which imported eggs are under investigation.
NFU Scotland has issued the call after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 207 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis across the UK during the past year, including six in Scotland.
One person has died and more than a third of those affected have required hospital treatment.
UKHSA is working alongside the Food Standards Agency and public health bodies across the UK to establish the source of the outbreak.
While investigations remain ongoing, cases have been linked to food businesses identified as using imported eggs. UKHSA has said there is currently no identified link to UK-produced eggs or poultry.
NFU Scotland says the outbreak highlights the importance of ensuring imported food meets standards equivalent to those required of domestic producers.
Poultry Chair Matthew Steel said: “This is a deeply concerning outbreak and our thoughts are first and foremost with everyone who has been affected.
“It also highlights why consumers should be able to choose Scottish and UK eggs with confidence, whether they are buying them in a supermarket, an independent shop or eating out.”
Commercial egg producers in the UK are subject to national Salmonella control and testing requirements, while many also participate in additional assurance schemes, including the British Lion scheme.
NFU Scotland says particular attention should be paid to the wholesale and food service sectors, where consumers may have less information about the origin of eggs used in meals and food products.
Mr Steel said: “The concern is that imported eggs largely enter wholesale and food service markets, where consumers often have very little information about where the eggs used in their meal or food product have come from.”
The farming union is calling for country-of-origin labelling to be extended beyond supermarket shelves to restaurants, cafés, hotels and wholesale suppliers.
According to NFU Scotland’s 2025 ShelfWatch report, 80 per cent of eggs on Scottish supermarket shelves were sourced from Scotland, an increase of five percentage points on the previous year.
The union also says retailers do not use imported shell eggs, with imported products instead largely entering other parts of the supply chain.
Consumers are being encouraged to check packaging and shell markings for Scottish or UK origin and to ask hospitality businesses where the eggs they use are sourced.
NFU Scotland also advises people to continue following Food Standards Scotland guidance on the safe handling and cooking of eggs.
Mr Steel warned that the issue of imports could become increasingly important as the UK moves away from colony cage egg production, potentially reducing the availability of cheaper domestically produced eggs.
He added: “We cannot allow high domestic production standards to result in Scottish and UK farmers being undercut by cheaper imports produced under less stringent requirements.
“This outbreak should focus attention on where our food comes from.”
