Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of best before dates on eggs.

Regulation (EC) No 589/2008, which lays down marketing standards for eggs, requires raw, shell eggs to be marked with a best before date which should be no more than 28 days after laying. Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, which lays down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, requires eggs to be sold within 21 days of laying.

‘Best before’ is used on most foods, to indicate that the quality of the food may not be at its best after that date has expired. It is not an indication of safety and, where safe to do so, food may continue to be sold and used after this date. Good use of these indications, in line with recent Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) guidance, will ensure that consumers will be able to make the best use of food and reduce waste.

Food labelling will be reviewed following EU Exit to ensure continued consumer confidence in the food they buy.