The government has been accused of ‘crossing its fingers and hoping for the best’ as a crisis in supply of eggs grows in the country. Supermarkets are reporting shortages as both outbreaks of avian flu and bird feed availability affected by the Ukrainian war is hitting production.
Pictures have been posted on social media showing empty shelves where eggs should be and some supermarkets have restricted purchases to two boxes per customer. Tesco is reportedly set to join ASDA and Lidl in rationing eggs.
Asda is only letting customers buy two boxes of eggs each, with Lidl saying three is the maximum. In the House of Commons today, Labour asked the Environment Secretary if her plan is “just fingers crossed” and hoping another animal disease outbreak does not happen on her watch.
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Shadow environment minister Daniel Zeichner told MPs: “Now, as we have already heard, food production is vulnerable to animal disease. We’ve heard about the impact of avian flu on supermarkets limiting the sale of eggs.
“Yet this week, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlighted what they described as a long period of inadequate management and underinvestment at the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge site, and warned that they would struggle if there was any concurrent disease outbreak.
“So, as the Secretary of State well knows, other diseases do threaten. Although staff are doing their very, very best, what is her plan if we face another disease outbreak? Or is it just fingers crossed and hoping it doesn’t happen on her watch?”
Therese Coffey replied: “I’ve been at the climate Cop27 for the last few days, so I haven’t read all of the PAC report but I reject the assertion they make that our biosecurity is not being well done. We should be proud of what happens in the United Kingdom in protecting our country from these sorts of diseases and we will continue to do so.”
Ms Coffey said she is confident “we can get through this supply difficulty”. Labour MP Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) asked her in the Commons: “Some supermarkets are now rationing eggs and ahead of Christmas, there’s real concern about the supply of turkeys.
“Avian influenza has meant that the British Free Range (Egg) Producers Association have said that a third of members have cut back on production, so, can the Secretary of State say what the Government is doing to help poultry farmers through what is a very challenging time?”
Ms Coffey replied: “The minister for food, farming and fishing is meeting the industry on a regular basis, a weekly basis is my understanding. I think it’s fair to say retailers have not directly contacted the department to indicate supply chains… although I am conscious of what is happening in individual shelves.
“But recognising there are still about nearly 14 million egg-laying hens available, I’m confident we can get through this supply difficulty in the short term.”
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