Criminals re-packing of eggs with fake ‘best before' dates have
been stopped and prosecuted, following investigations carried out
by the Animal and Plant Health Agency inspectors.
The prosecutions, which took place between January and March
2025, involved multiple offences under the Egg Marketing
Regulations. These included the unlawful re-packing of eggs with
altered or extended ‘best before' dates and breaches of required
labelling standards and followed work by Animal and Plant Health
Agency's Egg Marketing Inspectors in conjunction with the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Counter Fraud
and Investigation Team.
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On 31 March 2025, Phillip Hoyland of Summerley Top Farm,
Derbyshire pleaded guilty to fraud charges. The charges arose
following routine inspections carried out by APHA EMIs and a
subsequent investigation by Defra's Counter Fraud and
Investigation Team. Mr Hoyland was sentenced to 24 months'
imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.
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On 24 March 2025, Barradale Eggs Ltd of Ashford, Kent, was
prosecuted at Maidstone Magistrates' Court. The case followed
an inspection by an APHA EMI, who identified that a batch of
eggs had been re-packed and the original ‘best before' date
extended—contrary to egg marketing legislation. The company
was found guilty of one offence and was ordered to pay a fine
of £466 and costs of £85.
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Field Farm Eggs, based in South Newbald, East Yorkshire, was
prosecuted at Hull Magistrates' Court on 24 February 2025,
following inspections conducted by an APHA EMI in December
2023. The inspections revealed that a batch of class A eggs
had been re-packed and the ‘best before' date unlawfully
extended.The defendant was found guilty of two offences and
fined £1,000, with a victim surcharge of £400 and costs of
£85.
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Holyfield Farm Fresh Eggs Ltd, based in north London, pleaded
guilty to three charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court
on Monday 20 January 2025 following inspections by an APHA
EMI which found the original ‘best before' date had been
extended by four days. The court issued a fine of £2,000
(reduced from £3,000 due to an early guilty plea) and awarded
£200 for prosecution costs.
Aled Edwards, Head of England Field Delivery, Animal and
Plant Health Agency said:
It's essential that consumers can trust the eggs they purchase
are fresh, safe to eat, and clearly and accurately labelled.
These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement procedures; across
the country we have 35 EMIs who work in our field delivery teams
and have the important role of ensuring regulations in the egg
industry are adhered to. I welcome these sentences from the
courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others.
Every egg packaging centre, regardless of scale, must comply with
all relevant legislation, including comprehensive environmental
and animal welfare rules.
The cases are the latest example of robust collective action by
APHA, Defra and the EMIs to prevent offences which breach the
required labelling standards to maintain the highest
food labelling standards in this country so that
consumers have confidence in the food that they buy.
Anyone who has serious concerns about the welfare of livestock is
always urged to report issues immediately to the APHA so that
urgent action can be taken by telephoning 03000 200 301 or
emailing customeradvice@apha.gov.uk
