Couple fined in egg fraud case

A court has ordered a couple to pay more than £1,700 in fines and costs after being caught selling cage eggs as free range.

The couple, who had been selling the eggs from their home, implying that they were produced by their own hens, had, in fact, bought the eggs from a supplier. Trading standards officers who launched an investigation into their business found that the eggs were produced in intensive units. The couple pleaded guilty to a series of charges at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court.

The prosecution followed an investigation by officers from Dorset County Council's trading standards service. The court heard that the accused, Stephen Hobbs, aged 65, and Anne Hobbs, aged 66, both of West Moors Road, Three Legged Cross, Dorset had sold eggs in plain boxes with the producer’s identity markings removed. Hens could be seen roaming freely in their garden. The implication was that the eggs had been produced by their own flock, said the prosecuting officers.

Trading standards launched its investigation following a complaint that the defendants were selling more eggs than their flock could possibly produce. Officers made test purchases and eggs were found to have traces of markings that revealed they had come from a large supplier. Further enquiries revealed that Stephen Hobbs had purchased 12,000 eggs over the previous three months from this supplier. Hobbs maintained that he sold these eggs at car boot sales and not from his home.

In court the couple each pleaded guilty to six offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the Food Safety Act 1990 and the General Food Regulations 2004 for failing to identify the supplier of the eggs; failing to declare that the eggs were not from their own flock so as to mislead consumers; selling eggs with the producer’s stamps removed and selling eggs in a misleading manner.

They said in mitigation that their hens’ egg production fell in September last year and they started supplementing their production by purchasing eggs from a man who called at their door.

Ivan Hancock, trading standards service manager for Dorset County Council, said, “Many consumers choose to buy from local outlets to support local producers or particular methods of farming or production. Anyone misleading customers undermines that choice and abuses the trust consumers place on local food suppliers.

“Food and drink retailers need to be cautious about what they are selling. Any business who buys stock from an untraceable source such as casual van sales, and without proper invoices, is not thinking responsibly about the safety of their customers.”

Stephen and Anne Hobbs were each fined £300 and ordered to pay a total of £1,178 in costs.