Countdown recalls Choice strawberries

AUCKLAND: Countdown is warning customers to cut up strawberries before eating them after needles were found in fruit bought in an Auckland supermarket.

The supermarket chain has withdrawn the Choice brand of strawberries, in which the needles were found, from the shelves at Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice outlets.

The Choice brand, sourced from Western Australia, was sold nationwide last week.

‘‘Customers can return any Choice brand of strawberries they may have at home to Countdown for peace of mind and a full refund,’’ the supermarket said.

‘‘As an extra precaution and following similar advice from public health authorities in Australia, customers should cut up any Australian strawberries before eating them,’’ it said.

‘‘Countdown is in contact with both New Zealand and Australian authorities as they investigate this matter.’’

Asked about which Countdown store the affected strawberries were found at, a spokeswoman would not say.

It is not known either whether the affected punnet was discovered by a member of the public or a staff member.

The spokeswoman told The New Zealand Herald that apart from this discovery, no other strawberries with needles had been reported across the Countdown store network in New Zealand.

Foodstuffs said last week it would halt the distribution of Australian strawberries in New Zealand.

Foodstuffs operates Four Square, New World and Pak’n Save.

Auckland resident Ly Nguyen was alarmed to hear about the discovery of needles in strawberries sold by Countdown.

She emerged from Countdown’s Victoria St outlet with a bag full of fruit and veges but had not bought any strawberries.

She said she ate the fruit often but usually in the summer, when it was in season.

‘‘I have never heard of an incident like this with Countdown,’’ she said.

‘‘It is a worry this can happen in New Zealand. Now we have to make sure that every time we buy strawberries it is safe.’’

Although more an apple guy, student Atish Bhattarai ate strawberries occasionally and said he was also concerned.

He also said this should not be happening in New Zealand and hoped authorities would investigate.

‘‘But Countdown can’t check all its strawberries, so the main responsibility is with the company that packed them,’’ he said.

The find comes after a massive recall across the Tasman, where strawberries were withdrawn from supermarkets across six regions after needles were found in some.

Queensland police are leading an investigation into the source of the needles, and the state’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has stumped up a reward of $100,000 for anyone with information that leads to the capture of the culprits. — NZME