‘I didn’t put a needle in’
Timaru woman Jaydean Temperley who was charged over making a false complaint to police after saying she found a needle in a strawberry has been charged with causing loss by deception.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Quested, of Timaru, said as a result of further inquiries police had laid a second charge.
‘‘This is in connection with the significant quantity of strawberries that were destroyed as a result of this incident, reflecting the seriousness of the offending,’’ Quested said.
Temperley had given an interview to Stuff on Tuesday about her claim. The 28-year-old mother of two spoke to Stuff to raise her concerns after claiming she discovered the needle in a strawberry bought from Timaru’s Pak ‘n Save about 9am on Monday.
She said in the interview she had found the needle while cutting a berry into quarters for her 15-month-old daughter.
Stuff’s reporter questioned her on whether she had planted the needle herself, which she denied.
‘‘I didn’t put a needle in the strawberry,’’ she said.
Asked if she had any idea how the needle got into the strawberry, Temperley replied ‘‘I have no idea’’.
Police took a statement at the supermarket and the two punnets were bagged and taken away as evidence, she said.
Temperley was arrested on Wednesday, the day after she spoke to Stuff.
As a result of her complaint, all strawberries were removed from the shelves at Timaru’s Pak ‘n Save supermarket.
It was the second South Canterbury supermarket forced to pull strawberries from the shelves in recent weeks. A needle was found inside a strawberry in a punnet purchased at FreshChoice supermarket in Geraldine on November 24.
A police spokesperson said the incident was disappointing but ‘‘demonstrates that police and Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) take these matters seriously’’.
‘‘It also shows that, where appropriate, anyone making false reports in matters like this will be held to account.’’
On Wednesday, a NZFS spokesperson said the investigation showed there ‘‘were no risks in the supply chain or the food safety system’’.
‘‘There is no reason that strawberries shouldn’t go back on the shelves.’’
The spokesperson would not comment on the cost of the investigation.
Foodstuffs NZ spokeswoman Antoinette Laird said they were very pleased with the response and action from police regarding te investigation.
‘‘Malicious events like these have serious consequences for our customers, suppliers and stores.
‘‘The impact on our business is considerable; from the destruction of perfectly good produce, harm to our reputation and that of our suppliers, to the time wasted dealing with false claims.
‘‘We take our responsibility of care to customers very seriously and follow a thorough process in all these types of instances. To have to do so needlessly, is frustrating to say the least.
‘‘We are hopeful this will send a message that tampering with any product is unacceptable.’’
Temperley will appear in the Timaru District Court on January 29.
‘‘I have no idea’’ [how the needle got in the strawberry] Jaydean Temperley