An ongoing
DEFRA
investigation into egg labelling fraud has revealed that up to one
million dozen “suspect eggs” were “allegedly” imported into the UK
over a 10-week period.
A DEFRA spokesman would not specify when this 10-week period
occurred but confirmed that it was during its ongoing, formal
investigation into the 9 billion eggs produced in the UK
annually.
The spokesman also stated that it was a “possibility” that
“suspect eggs” had been mislabelled and sold as free-range eggs
over a period of up to five years.
Originally the DEFRA investigation led officials to Germany
where two people, Bernstein and Richter, were believed to be
allegedly involved in the fraud. But DEFRA enquiries into the two
names and an address in Germany proved false. The DEFRA spokesman
confirmed: “This particular line of the investigation has ceased.
We are happy that Germany is not involved.”
The investigation has now moved on to a P.O. Box on Gloucester
Road, Kensington, south-west London. On 21 November 2006, a man
[pictured] was recorded on CCTV unsuccessfully attempting to access
a P.O. Box opened under the name of Bernstein.
A DEFRA spokesman said: “Whilst it would appear from our
enquiries that this particular aspect of the alleged fraud has
ceased; our investigation team is very keen to identify this
individual and establish his innocence or otherwise in connection
with this particular line of inquiry.”
The DEFRA investigation team is now looking at trading in
“suspect eggs” from
two other European countries. The DEFRA spokesman could not
specify which countries these were for legal reasons. But he
stated: “It is important to note that this is an alleged fraud
against the public and the rest of the British egg industry and it
is important we get to the bottom of this.”
The DEFRA team is keen to identify this individual. If you have
any information, contact the DEFRA Investigation Services on 0117
959 3111.
