Britain is an egg-loving nation, with more than 14 billion consumed annually. However, a new report has issued caution over the eggs we may be eating, outlining both risks to safety and animal wellbeing due to insufficient border control inspections.
The report – Shell Shocked – highlights a sharp spike in egg imports to the UK, which has witnessed a 60% increase in just five years. This represents a shift from around one billion to 1.6 billion eggs a year.
This growth has been driven largely by supply from Ukraine and Poland, with exports to the UK from the former rising by 65.6% in 2025.
According to the report, a lot of these products rely on conventional battery cages - which have been illegal in the UK since 2012. They also compete against British eggs produced under the Lion Code of Practice; a mark that signifies stringent food safety standards have been applied well beyond UK and assimilated EU legislation.
Alongside flagging animal welfare concerns, the British Egg Industry Council has pointed to a coinciding rise of egg-related food safety incidents across Europe.
Recent examples include 123 confirmed illnesses in the UK in late 2025, traced to a single imported egg distributor (origin unconfirmed), banned antibiotic residues found in Ukrainian eggs entering European markets; ongoing Salmonella investigations in Sweden linked to Ukrainian imports; and more than 200 UK cases in 2024 associated with imported Polish eggs.
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) is now urging the UK Government to align import standards with UK food safety and hen welfare rules and introduce systematic testing and effective inspections at the border to ensure eggs entering the UK meet the same high standards required under the British Lion Code of Practice.
It also calls on retailers, manufacturers, and foodservice operators to urgently review their sourcing policies for eggs and egg ingredients, and strengthen their traceability requirements.
“This report highlights the real and urgent risks that inferior imports pose for consumers and the wider food industry,” commented Nick Allen, chief executive of the BEIC.
“Any consumer would be appalled at what the Government is doing to undermine their safety. More than 90% of eggs produced in the UK are covered by the British Lion Code of Practice, one of the most comprehensive food safety schemes in the world. British farmers have invested hundreds of millions of pounds to meet these standards, including vaccination against Salmonella and not using conventional battery cages.
“Allowing lower‑standard imports to undercut UK egg producers is not protectionism, it risks undermining consumer safety, public confidence in eggs and the resilience of our domestic food supply.
“It is time for the Government to act in the interests of consumers and ensure that any eggs and egg products entering the UK meet our standards, starting with stronger controls at the border.”
Food safety expert, Dr Lisa Ackerley, who reviewed import controls for the report, added: “Most consignments are not physically inspected, testing is risk‑triggered rather than systematic, and sampling frequencies are not publicly disclosed. As a result, contamination or residues may only be identified once illness occurs or overseas alerts are issued, meaning product may already be in kitchens, factories or on shelves.
“It is also worth noting that British Lion eggs are Food Standards Agency approved for vulnerable groups to consume runny, while imports are not. That is a serious food safety risk for imports.”
While the report has focused its scrutiny on European suppliers, it adds that future trade agreements could significantly widen the UK’s exposure to eggs and egg products produced in conventional ‘battery’ cage systems.
