Criminals repacking eggs with fake best before dates have been stopped and prosecuted, following investigations carried out by Animal and Plant Health Agency inspectors.
The prosecutions, which took place between January and March 2025, involved multiple offences under egg marketing regulations, the government said.
Offences included the unlawful repacking of eggs with altered or extended best before dates and breaches of required labelling standards. It followed work by APHA’s egg marketing inspectors in conjunction with the Defra Counter Fraud and Investigation team.
“It’s essential that consumers can trust the eggs they purchase are fresh, safe to eat, and clearly and accurately labelled,” said Aled Edwards, head of England field delivery, APHA. “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.”
Philip Hoyland of Summerley Top Farm, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to fraud charges on 31 March 2025 and was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.
On 24 March 2025, Barradale Eggs Ltd of Ashford, Kent, was prosecuted at Maidstone Magistrates Court. An egg marketing inspector identified that a batch of eggs had been repacked 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.
Field Farm Eggs, based in South Newbald, East Yorkshire, was prosecuted at Hull Magistrates Court on 24 February 2025, following inspections in December 2023.
The inspections revealed that a batch of class A eggs had been repacked 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.
Holyfield Farm Fresh Eggs Ltd, based in north London, pleaded guilty to three charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Monday 20 January 2025. The inspections 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.
The government has said that every egg packaging centre, regardless of scale, must comply with all relevant legislation, including comprehensive environmental and animal welfare rules.
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