Canberra sources reported that Australian authorities on Monday ordered an investigation into the discovery of sewing needles hidden in strawberries, amid growing alarm over scares across the country. Accordingly the contaminated baskets of strawberries have now been reported in six states and territories. Reports added one man has been hospitalized after eating a strawberry that held a needle.
Furthermore several brands have been recalled, while a major New Zealand grocer said that it had stopped selling imported strawberries as a precaution. Accordingly he told the media that Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt ordered the Food Safety Authority of Australia and New Zealand to investigate the scare. "This is a very vicious crime and it's a general attack on the public”.
Presently cases of fruit tampering were first
reported in Queensland State last week, before spreading to New South Wales,
Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania. Hence
the Queensland state government has offered an A$100,000 ($72,000) reward for
information.