UK shoppers have been warned of a "real and urgent risk" linked to a surge in egg imports, which have risen 60% since 2021. The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has raised concerns that foreign producers, particularly from Ukraine, are undercutting domestic farmers and bypassing strict food safety standards.
According to food safety expert Dr Lisa Ackerley, who reviewed import controls for the BEIC's Shell Shocked report, imported eggs often fall short of the world-leading British Lion Code of Practice and are not subject to rigorous inspections. This poses a "serious food safety risk" to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children, for whom the UK's national quality assurance scheme is approved by the Food Standards Authority.
The Shell Shocked report linked the import surge, now averaging 1.6 billion eggs per year, to food safety incidents including 123 confirmed illnesses in the UK in late 2025, traced to a single imported egg distributor of unconfirmed origin. The British Lion Code requires vaccination of hens, traceability, strict hygiene, and Salmonella testing, standards not guaranteed in imports.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the BEIC, called on the government to implement stronger border checks to protect consumers and domestic producers. "It's time for the Government to act," he said, noting that tariff-free imports from Ukraine, extended until 2028, are exacerbating the issue. A Defra spokesperson stated the government shares public concerns and will consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage.
