Shoppers buying eggs in UK supermarkets are being urged to check for one important safety mark before putting them in their baskets. Eggs are a staple in many households and are often used in everything from breakfast to baking.

But food safety experts say there is one simple way to make sure you are choosing eggs produced under strict standards. It comes after years of work to reduce the risk of salmonella in the UK. Concerns around egg safety were once widespread, particularly for vulnerable groups. However, big changes were introduced to improve standards across the industry.

The mark shoppers should look for is the British Lion stamp.

The British Lion is the UK's most successful food safety scheme, with more than 90% of UK eggs now produced under it.

Since it was launched in 1998, more than 200 billion British Lion eggs have been sold.

The scheme was introduced to tackle salmonella and has been credited with drastically reducing its presence in UK eggs.

All eggs carrying the British Lion mark are produced under the British Lion Code of Practice, which covers the entire production chain.

This includes strict food safety controls and guarantees that hens are vaccinated against Salmonella.

It also operates a traceability system, meaning hens, eggs and feed can all be tracked.

In 2016, the Government's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food said: "There has been a major reduction in the microbiological risk from Salmonella in UK hen shell eggs.

"This is especially true for those eggs produced under the Lion Code."

The Food Standards Agency then updated its advice in 2017, confirming that British Lion eggs are safe to eat runny or even raw, including for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, elderly people and babies.

The European Food Safety Authority also confirmed that UK egg production under the Lion Code was among the safest in the world.

British Lion eggs are widely available across the UK and can be found in all major supermarkets, including Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.