Thousands of tonnes of food bound for UK supermarkets may have been contaminated by illegal migrants hiding in lorries, a new report has warned.
Oakland International estimates that since 2016, more than 3,000 truckloads—around 80,000 tonnes of goods—have been put at risk, including chilled and frozen food, pharmaceuticals, and household products.
The logistics firm says stowaways often board trucks in northern France and stay hidden until they arrive in Britain, with entire shipments potentially compromised. Lorries were once the primary route for people-smuggling into the UK, but tighter Channel Tunnel security has driven many to switch to small boat crossings.
However, Oakland International says that only a small fraction of lorries are inspected, meaning the true scale of the problem could be much higher.
Dean Attwell, co-founder of Oakland International, said, “Every compromised load puts the public at risk and costs the industry millions per year.”
He added: “The current system is failing to protect both people and products.”
Health authorities have also raised concerns over rising cases of foodborne bacteria, including listeriosis—which has risen 13% above the five-year average—and salmonella, which mainly affects meat, eggs, and poultry.
Severe infections can be fatal for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, with hospitalisation sometimes required due to life-threatening dehydration.
