Fifty people a day are caught carrying illegal food into UK

New figures from Defra show that more than 21,200 illegal personal food items, such as meat and dairy products, brought in from non-EU countries were seized by UK enforcement agencies at airports and ports.

Many food stuffs from abroad are prohibited from being brought into the country under EU rules, intended to protect people, livestock and crops from exotic pests and diseases.

Travellers arriving from Eastern Asia and the Middle East were the worst offenders, with more than a 1,000 seizures being made on people entering the country after arriving from these destinations.

Food Minister Jim Paice said: "Most people bring back these items for a 'taste of home', but they could be bringing back disease.

"We need to make sure we protect our crops and livestock, as well as people's health – which is why we've been working to raise awareness and dispel myths about personal food imports rules.

"Most of these foods can now be purchased in British markets and shops."

The huge rise in seizures saw enforcement agencies confiscate 45 per cent more illegal dairy products and 14 per cent more illegal meat products, according to figures in the Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products.

To halt the rise in attempts to bring in these products the UK Border Agency has deployed officers to further target high risk routes for illegal meat and dairy products.

Defra, the UK Border Agency and the Food Standards Agency last year sought to raise public awareness of the rules by re-launching the Black and Minority Ethnic campaign, with African and Chinese community campaign ambassadors.