Illegal eggs

Has anyone told Nigel Farage that it’s illegal to sell British eggs in the US?

And that negotiating trade deals is more difficult than pushing the UP button on Trump Tower’s Golden Elevator?

Let me explain.

I got curious making breakfast the other day: why are all British eggs brown? And why are they on the shelf next to the coffee, and not in the refrigerator, as they are in North America?

Now, before you jump to conclusions, they’re not illegal because they’re brown, so nobody has to build a wall to protect the US from them. (And they’re brown because British consumers have been convinced over the last 30 years that brown is more natural, more rustic and hence better, none of which is true.)

They’re illegal because of the processing they don’t require, which is why they don’t require refrigeration.

And they don’t require refrigeration because they adhere to European Union egg standards, which require that all hens be vaccinated against salmonella.

No salmonella, no refrigeration required.

In the US, unlike here, there are NO vaccinations for the hens.

As a result, eggs are washed in hot water after laying to ensure they don’t have any salmonella (or dirt) on the shell.

That hot wash also removes a microscopically thin protective outer layer called the cuticle.

With the cuticle gone, they have to be sprayed with a chemical sanitizer.

Then the sanitizer has to be dried off to discourage bacteria growth.

And the eggs refrigerated to keep any salmonella present from growing (which, frankly, makes me feel a bit sick about eating eggs when I get home.)

Without all of that processing and treatment, you can’t sell eggs, regardless of their colour, in the good ‘ol  USA.

I think Nigel had better rethink his strategy.