The red lion symbol is back on British eggs after nearly 30 years in an effort to help customers make a healthy choice.

Eggs from hens that have been vaccinated against salmonella will carry the red symbol, which was originally launched in the 1950s to indicate eggs which were British.

The lion mark was dropped in 1971 when the British Egg Marketing Board closed down. Around 70% of eggs produced in the UK, including battery, free range and organic varieties, will carry the symbol.

The red lion has been printed on egg boxes since 1998, when the vaccination programme was launched. Stamping individual eggs completes the process.

British Egg Industry Council chairman Andrew Parker said the vaccine had been responsible for halving the number of human cases of salmonella enteritidis PT4 in two years.

He said: "Although no food can ever be 100% safe, we believe that Lion Quality eggs are now among the safest in the world - if not the safest."

About £4m will be spent on advertising and promoting Lion Quality eggs this year