SALES of eggs in Britain have been plummeting for decades because of a growing obsession with health: back in the 1970’s, scientists claimed that eggs were a major cause of growing cholesterol levels which, in turn, led to more coronary disease.

Before then, millions of people had an egg for breakfast every day. "Go to work on an egg" was one of the most successful sales slogans of all time, pushed in television ads. by the comedian Tony Hancock.

Now, scientists at Surrey University say they have proved that the cholesterol allegation is a myth and we can eat as many as we like. Reporting in the journal Nutrition Bulletin, they say that eating foods heavy in saturated fats – like the bacon and sausages which, with eggs, were once part of the standard British breakfast – is much more harmful.