This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

GUERNSEY’S main supplier of local eggs yesterday recalled all its stock from supermarkets.

Staff at Checkers and the Co-op were advised to clear their shelves after the new owner of Castel Farm Eggs contacted them. But the new proprietor did not explain his reasons for the recall to the supermarkets, Environmental Health or islanders.

It is understood there were concerns about the quality of the chickens and their eggs but the unnamed new owner was unable to be contacted yesterday. The business suffered approximately £100,000-worth of damage when its packing shed burnt down two months ago and it is believed the proposed sale was already in place at that time.

Co-op marketing manager Jim Plumley said the new owner had contacted one of its stores to request the eggs’ withdrawal, but did not explain why. ‘The call came from the new owner of Castel Farm Eggs but we cannot get through to him to find out what is going on.

‘Until we do, I cannot really say much more.

‘All I know is that we have been asked to remove his eggs, so we are doing it.’

Mark Cox, director of operations at Checkers, said the supermarket was surprised by news of potential problems with the eggs.

‘We have been advised that there are some quality issues with Castel Farm Eggs and they asked us to remove the product from display in all of our stores,’ he said.

‘Obviously, we take product issues very seriously and made sure the eggs were removed as soon as possible.

‘Any product recall is a surprise and we are just working with the supplier to make sure that all are recalled and taken off the shelves at the earliest opportunity.’

With the new owner unavailable for comment, it is not known what action anyone who might already have bought CFE eggs should take.

But Mr Cox said any Checkers’ customers could return them and get a full refund.

‘We have also had further notices prepared and put up in our stores giving customers more information,’ he said.

A recent salmonella outbreak at a catering establishment, caused by raw eggs being used in mayonnaise, left 18 people needing treatment but Environmental Health said yesterday that anyone with  Castel Farm Eggs should exercise the same level of caution as they would with any other eggs or raw food.

‘The Environmental Health Department was not aware that Castel Farm Eggs Ltd was recalling stock from retail outlets,’ a spokesman said.

‘The department did not require these eggs to be withdrawn, but it has recently advised the public and caterers about the safe use of all eggs and dishes containing eggs.

‘Anyone with Castel Farm Eggs in their refrigerators should exercise the same caution as for any other eggs or raw foods.’

He said eggs should be stored separately from other food, should be cooked thoroughly and hands and food areas should be washed after coming into contact with raw eggs.

‘Recent incidents of salmonella infections have highlighted the fact that people are failing to appreciate that all eggs should be considered as a raw food that might carry bacteria, as should raw meat,’ he said.

‘The use of raw eggs to make mayonnaise was considered a factor in the recent salmonella outbreak,’ said the spokesman.

The former owner of Castel Farm Eggs, Martin Freeman, declined to comment yesterday.