Pregnant women, babies and the elderly can now safely eat runny or raw eggs for the first time since the 1980s – as long as the eggs have the British Lion mark, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

The FSA changed its advice after a year-long risk assessment by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and following almost two decades of food safety measures being implemented by British egg producers.

Commenting on the new advice, Dr Juliet Gray, registered nutritionist, said: “The new advice is very welcome news. Eggs are highly nutritious, containing many key nutrients including high quality protein, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, choline and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are particularly important for many vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, babies and elderly people and several of them are not found in many other foods.”