Aust police hunt for strawberry saboteurs

BRISBANE: Investigators remain stumped by strawberry sabotage that has spread to six brands in four states.

It is feared copycats maybe behind the latest discovery of needles and pins inside the supermarket strawberries, with consumers warned to continue to cut up any fruit not on the recall list before eating it.

Authorities are hopeful a $A100,000 ($NZ109,300) reward for information offered by the Queensland Government will lead to the culprit or culprits.

It comes as Coles and Aldi supermarkets pull all strawberries from their shelves across the country, except Western Australia, as a precaution over needle contamination fears.

Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook Berries branded fruit have recalled their strawberries nationwide.

Police are also investigating contamination of fruit sold by Delightful Strawberries, Love Berries and Oasis in stores in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has ordered the national food safety watchdog to assess the state’s handling of strawberry contamination.

‘‘This is a very vicious crime and it’s a general attack on the public, and it’s also an attack on a specific industry,’’ he told reporters yesterday.

A health warning to throw out or cut up strawberries remains in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

‘‘Remember if in doubt, throw them out, otherwise, make sure you chop before you chomp,’’ Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said. — AAP