Eat British LION eggs !

SPANISH eggs have the highest rate of salmonella in Europe, a report warns today.

An investigation by the Food Standards Agency reveals one box of eggs in every eight from the country is contaminated with the bug.

The shock findings put Spain at the top of a league of shame with a 12.5 per cent risk of consumers falling victim to food poisoning.

All the eggs were bought in corner shops and discount stores across the UK and the FSA is now urging families who have cheap Spanish eggs to avoid eating runny yolks.

Pregnant women, the elderly and babies are the most vulnerable and an FSA spokesman said: "These groups should ensure eggs are thoroughly cooked to minimise the risk of food poisoning."

By law, all eggs from the EU should be stamped with a code showing the country of origin and farm's identity number.

Under the code 0 is organic' 1 is free range' 2 for barn eggs' 3 for cage eggs. For example, an egg showing 2ES reveals it is a barn egg from Spain. All British eggs will bear the initials UK and also include a 'Lion Quality' symbol - which shows the hens have been vaccinated against the most common bug salmonella entertidus.

Dr Andrew Wadge, the FSA's director of food safety said: "The vast majority of eggs we eat in the UK are salmonella free. However this survey shows problems have not gone away."

A GOVERNMENT investigation was launched yesterday into claims that 30 million non-free range eggs may have been illegally stamped free range.