are a staple. They can be used in many ways, from simply or them to preparing more complicated . But are being warned to check for one small detail on their to avoid the risk of salmonella, especially if they plan to eat them raw or lightly cooked.

The key is to look for a red British Lion mark, which is stamped on more than 90% of sold in the UK. According to , the mark means the eggs are part of the British Lion scheme, one of the most successful food safety programmes in the country.

All eggs in the scheme come from hens that are vaccinated against salmonella.

The entire production process, from farm to supermarket, follows strict safety standards under the British Lion Code of Practice.

The code ensures traceability, hygiene, and safety at every stage. Since it launched in 1998, more than 200 billion British Lion eggs have been sold, and the risk of salmonella in UK eggs has been "drastically reduced".

says that vulnerable groups, including young children, pregnant women, and elderly people, can safely eat raw or lightly cooked hen eggs, but only if they carry the British Lion stamp or come from the Laid in Britain scheme.

The agency's website reads: "People in these groups can eat raw or lightly cooked UK hen eggs or foods containing them as long as the eggs are produced under the Lion Code with a British Lion mark or under the Laid in Britain egg assurance scheme."

This includes dishes like mayonnaise, soufflés and tiramisu.

However, if the eggs are not part of these schemes, or if there's any doubt, they should always be thoroughly cooked, especially for people at greater risk.

Food Standards Scotland also warned that eggs should never be eaten past their best before date, which is usually no more than 28 days after they were laid.

After this point, the risk of bacteria growing increases.

The British Lion scheme only covers hen eggs. People are being advised not to eat raw or lightly cooked duck, goose or quail eggs, as these carry a higher risk of salmonella and must always be cooked thoroughly.

British Lion eggs are widely available in major supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and Waitrose.