NZ retailers axe Aussie strawberries
Retailer Foodstuffs has confirmed it will halt the distribution of Australian strawberries in New Zealand. Foodstuffs operates Four Square, New World and Pak’nSave.
The move follows a huge recall across the Tasman, where the product was pulled from the shelves of several supermarkets after the discovery of strawberries spiked with needles across six regions.
A Foodstuffs spokeswoman said no products in its stores had been affected by the problems in Australia.
However, the company has taken the step as a precautionary measure.
New Zealand imports strawberries from Australia during its off-season, which ends shortly.
Woolworths NZ, which runs Countdown stores, has also stopped ordering Australian strawberries.
“None of the strawberries on our shelves come from the areas affected by this issue in Australia, however as an extra precaution Countdown is not importing any further strawberries from Australia,” said Countdown’s head of produce, Steve Sexton.
The latest needles find was at a Woolworths store in Tasmania.
On Sunday a customer returned a punnet of strawberries to the supermarket purchased earlier in the day, alleging the fruit had been contaminated by a needle, police said.
Earlier that day a customer in South Australia made the discovery while eating fruit from a punnet of Mal’s Black Label strawberries.
The punnet was bought from Klose’s Foodland Supermarket in Littlehampton on Saturday with the independent grocery retailer pulling the strawberries from all its shelves.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has ordered the national food safety watchdog to assess the handling of strawberry contamination.
Australian police are investigating claims that needle sabotage has now spread to six brands of strawberries across five states.
The sewing needle contamination is believed to have affected six separate brands of strawberries: Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Love Berry, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis. Berry Ob- session, Berry Licious and Donnybrook Berries have recalled their strawberries nationwide.
Coles and Aldi have pulled all strawberries after needles were found inside berries sold as far apart as Sydney and Townsville.
— Staff reporter and news.com.au