In a joint operation conducted in the West Bank town of Beit Jala, inspectors from the Agriculture Ministry discovered a clandestine logistics distribution center for eggs. The center housed a stamping machine equipped with fraudulent stamps and approximately 90,000 eggs that had been stockpiled in the facility without adhering to appropriate cooling regulations. The ministry reported that a substantial portion of these eggs, approximately one-third, had already undergone the stamping process.
The ministry further highlighted that the illicit eggs were intended for distribution throughout Israel in the lead-up to the holiday season. During this period, demand for eggs typically surges, resulting in an increase in smuggling activities involving eggs and other animal-based products. In response to this trend, the ministry has intensified its efforts to combat such ventures, leading to the prevention of the sale of around 270,000 smuggled eggs.
The illicit eggs seized in Beit Jala, which were likely produced without veterinary oversight and transported without the necessary cooling conditions, were promptly destroyed. The stamping machine used to create counterfeit labels was also confiscated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as per the ministry’s statement.
Moshe Ahrak, who heads the ministry’s Inspection unit, emphasized the heightened consumption of animal products, including meat, eggs, and fish, during holiday periods. He stressed the ministry’s unwavering commitment to bolstering its enforcement efforts to thwart attempts at illicit activities and safeguard public health. Ahrak reiterated the critical importance of purchasing eggs and animal products exclusively from regulated establishments and in their original packaging to ensure safety and prevent potential health hazards.
