Sewing needles scare as strawberries recalled

In what police believe is a deliberate act, sewing needles have been found in punnets of strawberries from a south-east Queensland farm.

One Queenslander and two Victorians have reported discovering sewing needles in their strawberries from two brands - Berry Licious and Berry Obsession.

Queensland man Joshua Gane said his friend swallowed "half a sewing needle" after biting into a strawberry.

"We then checked the other strawberries and found another sewing needle lodged inside one of them,” he said in a Facebook post. “We are now at the ER because he subsequently started experiencing severe abdominal pain.

"Just being a helpful member of the community and making sure your children don’t have to endure what we have had to experience today. Please make your family and friends aware."

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the products had been recalled on Wednesday to ensure any potentially contaminated strawberries were removed.

"I'm out here today to advise people that if they have bought strawberries in Queensland, NSW or Victoria since early last week that they should dispose of them," Dr Young said.

"Definitely those two are the only brands of concern, but if people don't know and they want to be ultra-cautious then it would be best if they just throw out any strawberries they've kept."

Queensland Strawberry Growers Association industry development officer Jennifer Rowling said a "disgruntled ex-employee" may be responsible for the contamination.

"At this time, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association have reason to suspect that a disgruntled ex-employee may have orchestrated the occurrence, wherein sewing needles were found in a number of strawberries, in Queensland and Victoria," said Rowling.

"The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association is waiting on more information from Queensland Police on this matter and will update the Australian public as news becomes available to us."

Sheridan Randall, 13^th September 2018