in brief

The little lion is back

Caterers can now rest assured about the safety of eggs and egg products, thanks to the return of the Lion Quality mark.

The mark, which returns after a 30-year absence, guarantees that eggs have been laid in the UK by chickens vaccinated against salmonella. It was reinstated after the completion last month of an 18-month vaccination programme. All Lion Quality eggs also have a 21-days-from-lay best-before date.

Information for caterers on egg handling and hygiene is available from the British Egg Information Service on 020 7370 7411.

Ice-cream still licks the rest

Ice-cream is still top choice when it comes to desserts in out-of-home dining, with pubs taking the biggest slice of the ice-cream market, at 36%.

Demand for pastry-based desserts has risen, but there is less interest in cheesecake and Danish pastries, the report says.

The report is available from Foodservice Intelligence on 020 8799 3200.