The Shell Shocked report

The Shell Shocked report, published by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), highlights the growing risks facing UK food businesses and consumers as egg imports rise sharply.

Since 2021, total egg imports into the UK have increased by 60%, rising from around 1 billion to 1.6 billion eggs per year. Much of this growth is coming from countries operating under different regulatory frameworks, where food safety systems and animal welfare standards may not match those required of British producers.

Egg-related food safety and fraud across Europe

Recent incidents across Europe demonstrate the potential risks associated with imported eggs and egg products produced under different standards.

Download the report (.pdf file).

Download the Shell Shocked report (.pdf file).

Timeline of recent notable issues relating to eggs and egg products

The following chronology groups notable incidents by issue type.

SALMONELLA - SHELL EGG OUTBREAKS & RECALLS

2016: Multi-country European salmonella outbreak
Issue type: Salmonella
Countries affected: Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK
Eggs traced to a Polish egg packing centre caused widespread cross-border infections.
2021–2022: Spain-linked multi-country salmonella outbreak
Issue type: Salmonella
Countries affected: Spain, France, Netherlands, UK, Scandinavia
A major ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to Spanish eggs resulted in 272 cases, 25 hospitalisations, and 2 deaths. Contaminated eggs were reportedly diverted to processing rather than be destroyed.
2023-2025: Netherlands Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated feed
Issue type: Salmonella
Outbreak linked to eggshells from Salmonella-positive flocks inadequately treated before being added to poultry feed. The outbreak, which began in the first half of 2023, resulted in 151 cases in 2023, 27 in 2024, and 31 in 2025.
2024: Poland - Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs exported to UK
Issue type: Salmonella
Countries affected: UK
More than 200 cases of Salmonella reported linked to eggs imported from Poland to the UK. The FSA warned food businesses about using Polish eggs.
FSA Head of Incidents Tina Potter stated:
“Food businesses must maintain rigorous hygiene and sourcing practices, particularly when using imported products.”
2024: Sweden - major retail Salmonella egg recall
Issue type: Salmonella
Major Swedish retailers ICA, Axfood and Lidl recalled eggs after salmonella detection in production environments.
2024-2025: Sweden ongoing Salmonella recall linked to Ukrainian imports
Issue type: Salmonella
Salmonella detected in eggs imported from Ukraine in 2024. Swedish officials continued to investigate Salmonella outbreaks linked to eggs from Ukraine through 2024 and 2025, with more than 100 cases recorded.
2024: France – major Salmonella egg outbreak and recall (c. 3m eggs)
Issue type: Salmonella
Millions of eggs were recalled across French distribution networks and 100 illnesses were recorded due to Salmonella contamination.
2025: France - major Salmonella egg outbreak and recall (c.500,000 eggs)
Issue type: Salmonella
500,000 eggs recalled across four major French retailers.
2025: Belgium - Salmonella egg outbreak linked to laying farm
Issue type: Salmonella
A Salmonella outbreak traced to a Belgian farm was identified as the cause of illness for 67 people who were recorded being taken ill.
2025: UK – Salmonella egg outbreak linked to imported egg distributor
Issue type: Salmonella
123 confirmed illnesses linked to a single imported egg distributor were reported between May – October 2025.

Map: Salmonella - shell egg outbreaks & recalls

CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION & RESIDUE INCIDENTS

2017: Belgium and Netherlands - Fipronil chemical contamination scandal
Issue type: Illegal chemical use / contamination / fraud concealment
Countries affected: Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, UK and others
A major European-wide food incident erupted when eggs were found to be contaminated with fipronil, a veterinary insecticide prohibited for use in food-producing animals.
A pest control company had illegally applied the substance in laying hen houses on the continent. Contaminated eggs entered retail and processed food supply chains across Europe.
Tens of millions of eggs were withdrawn and hundreds of processed food lines recalled (sandwiches, salads, baked goods, sauces, egg ingredients). Criminal prosecutions followed. It is estimated that the recalls cost €150 million and affected 24 EU countries and 40 in total.
UK FSA statement at the time:
“The FSA is committed to ensuring that food is safe, and that UK consumers have food they can trust.”
2025: Ukraine: banned antibiotic residues detected in exported eggs
Issue type: Veterinary drug residues
Countries affected: Poland, Slovakia, Netherlands, Latvia (RASFF alerts)
Multiple RASFF alerts reported banned antibiotic residues (nitrofuran metabolite) in Ukrainian eggs entering EU trade channels impacting several countries.
French Agriculture Minister Anne Genevard warned:
“Eggs from Ukraine containing banned residues and produced in illegal cage systems threaten both consumer safety and market integrity. Stronger border controls and potential prohibitions are necessary.”

Map: Chemical contamination & residue incidents, and Recent fraud and labelling cases

RECENT FRAUD AND MISLABELLING CASES

2019: Netherlands - cage eggs sold as free range
Issue type: Fraud / misrepresentation
Trader prosecuted for falsifying producer codes and selling caged eggs as free-range. €30,000 fine.
2021: Spain - free range mislabelling
Issue type: Production system mislabelling
Eggs from cage systems marketed as free-range.
2020: Italy - origin fraud (imported eggs sold as Italian)
Issue type: Country-of-origin fraud
Countries affected: Poland, Spain, Italy
Authorities seized circa three million eggs from Poland and Spain relabelled as Italian, falsely marketed as domestic premium product.
2025: Malta - incorrect date stamping on imported Ukrainian eggs and mixing with domestically produced eggs
Issue type: Incorrect best-before/date stamping
Warning and recall notice issued.

EGG INGREDIENT INCIDENTS

2017: Fipronil (“Egg Gate”) chemical contamination scandal
Issue type: Chemical contamination / food fraud
Countries affected: Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK and others
Illegal use of the insecticide fipronil in laying hens in Belgium and the Netherlands led to millions of eggs, egg products and foods containing egg (powders, liquid egg, bakery mixes, mayonnaise, ready meals) being recalled across Europe and the UK.
2018 – Barn Farmed Liquid Egg White Salmonella outbreak
Issue type: Salmonella contamination (liquid egg ingredient)
Countries affected: UK, France and Spain
Salmonella Enteritidis in imported liquid egg white sourced from France (using Spanish eggs) caused seven confirmed human cases in the UK. FSA issued a precautionary recall.
2021–2025: Spain egg ingredient recalls
Issue type: Salmonella contamination / mislabelling
Multiple incidents involving egg powders, liquid eggs and bakery mixes linked to Salmonella and mislabelling. Products destined for EU and UK markets were recalled; international alerts issued via RASFF.
2022: Whole egg powder Salmonella contamination (Bulgaria)
Issue type: Microbiological contamination (egg powder)
Salmonella Enteritidis detected in Bulgarian whole egg powder led to withdrawal from EU supply chains.
2025: Whole egg powder Salmonella contamination (Poland)
Issue type: Microbiological contamination (egg powder)
Countries affected: EU
Whole egg powder exported from Poland tested positive for Salmonella, triggering an EU RASFF alert.

Map: Egg ingredient incidents. Source: the Shell Shocked report