Databank. Eggs from Iceland
Databank
Eggs from Iceland
Supermarket chain Iceland became the first UK food retailer to remove all artificial colours from hen feed. Until now consumers could only be sure of eating natural eggs free from artificial colorants by buying organic. Now they can buy colorant-free eggs at no extra cost. Iceland hen feed will also be free from genetically modified ingredients. The Lion Code of Quality does not permit the use of the artificial colorant Canthaxanthin which was also used as an artificial suntan pill colorant. Pills containing the substance were removed from sale when it was suggested that they could cause temporary problems with eyesight and even damage the retina. The colorant is still legally available for use in hen-feed and could be used by the 30 per cent of egg producers which do not adhere to the Lion Code. Iceland eggs will be printed with the information"colorant-free". Because they are not fed colorants, the Iceland egg yolks will be paler but Iceland claim that their quality will be just as nature intended.
