Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
In December 1988, a UK health minister's announcement that a large proportion of domestic egg production carried Salmonella enteritidis led to a sharp decline in consumer confidence. Retail egg sales dropped by nearly 60 percent, and many eggs were withdrawn from sale or destroyed. The public perceived eggs as unsafe, and the poultry farming sector faced a severe economic and reputational crisis.
To restore confidence and improve safety, government authorities aligned with industry stakeholders to introduce new safety standards. In 1998, the British Lion Quality Scheme was established, requiring mandatory vaccination of laying hens against Salmonella. Eggs produced under the scheme had to carry a visible stamp, the Lion mark, ____A____ on each egg. This stamp included a producer code, a "best before" date, and was backed by end-to-end traceability measures audited to the ISO 17065 standard. The scheme covered a large majority of all UK egg production.
Under the British Lion Scheme, each egg marked with the Lion code signified that it was laid by vaccinated hens, tracked from farm to retailer, and subjected to regular inspections. The producer code enabled full traceability back to the source, and the "best before" date provided consumers with freshness assurance. The auditing against ISO 17065 standards ensured that certification procedures were maintained with integrity. The Lion mark thus served not just as a label, but as a commitment to systematic quality control and safety.
Following the implementation of the Lion Scheme, the frequency of Salmonella enteritidis cases linked to eggs declined significantly across the UK and the wider European Union, where coordinated control measures were applied. Over time, the Lion mark grew into a trusted quality assurance symbol for retailers and consumers. By the late 2010s, guidance from UK health authorities even allowed for runny or lightly cooked eggs to be served safely to vulnerable population groups, provided the eggs bore the Lion stamp, reflecting industry confidence in the scheme's safety integrity.
What immediate impact did the UK health minister's 1988 announcement regarding Salmonella enteritidis in eggs have on the poultry sector?
1.It led to higher consumer trust in imported eggs.
2.It caused a sharp fall in egg sales and consumer confidence.
3.It resulted in new vaccination programmes being launched instantly.
4.It improved the economic performance of domestic egg producers.
5.It increased the export demand for British eggs in foreign markets.
Correct Answer : 2
Solution :
(a) is incorrect - The passage does not mention increased trust in imported eggs; it only highlights declining consumer confidence.
(b) is correct - The text explicitly states that retail egg sales dropped by nearly 60 percent, and the public perceived eggs as unsafe, leading to an economic and reputational crisis.
(c) is incorrect - Vaccination programmes and the British Lion Scheme were introduced later, not as an immediate outcome of the announcement.
(d) is incorrect - The sector faced an economic crisis, not improved performance.
(e) is incorrect - There is no reference to higher export demand; the problem was within the domestic market.
Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
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