on โ12-09-2018 06:42 PM
Strawberries sold in Woolworths found with sewing needles embedded inside
Queensland's police and health authorities are investigating after sewing needles were found inside strawberries bought from Woolworths.
Chief Health Office Dr Jeannette Young has advised anyone who bought strawberries since the start of last week in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, to throw them out.
"If they do have any strawberries it would be safest to dispose of them," she said.
"One person did consume a contaminated strawberry and they're being assessed at the moment."
She said three incidents have been reported to police, including one in Queensland and two in Victoria.
Dr Young said the brands contaminated were called Berrylicious and Berry Obsession and have come from a farm in south-east Queensland.
A Facebook user posted a warning several days ago about a punnet of Berry Obsession strawberries, which were purchased from Woolworths at the Strathpine Centre on Brisbane's northside.
Joshua Gane said he was driving up to the coast when his friend bit into a strawberry and swallowed "half a sewing needle".
"We then checked the other strawberries and found another sewing needle lodged inside one of them," he said.
"We are now at the ER because he subsequently started experiencing severe abdominal pain."
Mr Gane later said they received a call from the store manager at the Strathpine Centre who said it would be issuing a total recall on all of the punnets.
"They suspect it is foul play, but unsure whether it was via the supplier, Woolworths or a customer," the post said.
Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence from the State Crime Command said police believe the contamination was deliberate.
"[It's been done] obviously to injure somebody," he said.
"Police have spoken to the person who operates the farm and they are assisting us with our inquiries," he said.
Authorities across the three states were investigating to find the culprits.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Woolworths said it had taken the contaminated strawberries from the shelves, while the incident was being investigated with the suppliers.
"Customers are advised to return these products to their local Woolworths for a full refund," the spokesperson said.
Police believe they have contained the threat and assured consumers would be able to safely buy strawberries again from tomorrow when the stock is replaced.
Guess I'll be chopping mine and not eating them whole.
They are not from the farms mentioned, but I'm not taking any chances.
on โ15-09-2018 09:29 PM
Sadly farms are now dumping 90% of their strawberries. I bought some today; I just cut them before eating them.
on โ16-09-2018 08:40 AM
Coles and Aldi taking all strawberries off the shelves except in WA.
on โ16-09-2018 10:45 AM
We bought strawberries yesterday for $1 a punnet.....I intend to make a batch of jam later so they will have to be cut up.
on โ16-09-2018 12:21 PM
I went to buy a punnet yesterday in Aldi and at the cash register, the man pulled them aside and said they weren't allowed to sell them. I felt like saying-wouldn't it be easier to just remove the strawberries from the shelves then?
But seriously, what a shame so many strawberries are going to go to waste or be dumped, how many farmers are going to suffer, all because some idiot with far too much time on his or her hands has decided that cutting needles into small pieces to stick into strawberries in order to injure people is a good idea. There are some very disturbed people out there, that's all i can say.
on โ16-09-2018 01:07 PM
i was going to buy a couple of punnets today, my local woolies had plenty, to help support the farmers.
but at $1.70 pp and not finding one that wasnt going mouldy!
allways a few really nice ones on top, but turn the box over and look at the ones at the bottom.....no thanks.
on โ16-09-2018 01:56 PM
I had the Woolworths $1.70 ones on my shopping list but saw the $1 ones in Coles first.....no point in paying extra when they were only for jam.
โ16-09-2018 03:49 PM - edited โ16-09-2018 03:51 PM
Try growing your own David, the ones from the supermarket have no taste 'n aren't always fresh ..... No matter the "fresh food people might tell you
on โ16-09-2018 04:10 PM
In whose interests would be to destroy the strawberry growing industry?
โ16-09-2018 04:21 PM - edited โ16-09-2018 04:23 PM
@icyfroth wrote:In whose interests would be to destroy the strawberry growing industry?
I don't know, icyfroth.
It's beyond me why anyone is doing this.
We constantly read that people are 'outraged' by a cartoon or about things like that when we should be saving our outrage for people who deliberately do things to hurt other people or our community.
on โ16-09-2018 04:28 PM
@lyhargr_0 wrote:Try growing your own David, the ones from the supermarket have no taste 'n aren't always fresh ..... No matter the "fresh food people might tell you
i dont eat them normally, i was just going to buy some to help the growers who are now dumping tons of them.
my 2 punnets if i did buy them prolly wouldnt make any difference but i was willing to try.
its a pity someone would attempt to 'get at' strawberry growers like this, hurting innocent people is not the way to do it.
i'm guessing a couple of things will happen now,
every punnet will have a 'seal'
every punnet will have a packing number, trace back to the person who packed it.
punnets will pass thru a metal detector at some point during the trip from farm to shelf.
of course it will add cost to the strawberries.