Adrian Silaghi (Head of Catering Services) tells us all about eggs…
“Eggs are probably the most used ingredient in my kitchens and by far the most requested favourite choice: boiled, poached, fried, scrambled, omelettes, runny, in salads or on toasted buttered muffins.
Eggs are loaded with high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, good fats and various trace nutrients. More than half the protein of an egg is found in the egg white. Only 77 calories, with 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein with all 9 essential amino acids. Rich in iron, phosphorus, selenium and vitamins A, D, B6, B12, B2 and B5 (among others) and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper.
Eggs are an inexpensive, widely available and easily digestible source of high-quality protein and contain a significant proportion of leucine, an amino acid that is important for muscle synthesis, as well as many other nutrients of significance for older people, including vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.
Vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient that the body needs to function properly, and insufficiencies may trigger severe health problems such: weak muscles, mood changes, weight gain, fatigue or even stomach problems which may lead to inflammatory bowel disease.
In recent years, Care Homes had to restrict their use of eggs, especially when runny or when used raw in a recipe, to reduce the risks of vulnerable people contracting Salmonella – the type of bacteria most frequently reported to cause of food-related illness.
Eggs are firmly back on our daily menus following 2017 advice from the Food Standard Agency – provided that they are produced under the British Lion scheme, and that they bear the ‘British Lion mark’. This egg safety scheme was introduced in 1998 to reduce cases of salmonella food poisoning, and it’s worked!
The British Lion is the UK’s most successful food safety mark, with over 90% of UK eggs now produced within its strict guidelines. The British Lion scheme has been responsible for a drastic reduction to the presence of salmonella in UK eggs and the Food Standards Agency has recently confirmed that they are the only eggs that are safe to be consumed runny, or even raw, by vulnerable or elderly people with compromised immune systems.”
Contact Adrian.Silaghi@Nellsar.com for more information.
