UPDATE: 12:40pm, Monday Sept. 23:
Victoria Police has sent the following statement to The Brag:
“Banyule Criminal Investigation Unit detectives are currently investigating two reports of food contamination in the Eltham and Fairfield areas. Police have been told a needle was located in a strawberry bought from a store in Fairfield on 25 August and reported to police on 10 September.
“Investigators have also been told of another needle in a strawberry, bought at an Eltham supermarket on 22 September and reported to police on 23 September. The community is reminded that anyone found to be contaminating food products can be charged with a serious indictable offence with penalties including up to 10 years in jail.
“Police are appealing for people to take care when consuming fruit and urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
UPDATE: 10am, Monday Sept. 23:
Coles has sent the following statement to The Brag:
“Coles takes the safety of the food we sell seriously, and we have spoken to the customer to follow up their complaint,” said a Coles spokesperson.
“We have worked with our strawberry suppliers to implement additional control measures to ensure strawberries are inspected before they are sent to supermarkets. We have notified the police and will follow up with our supplier to investigate the matter.”
Love Food & Drink?
Get the latest Food & Drink news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
UPDATE: 9:00am Monday Sept. 23:
Dave Chapman has issued an exclusive statement to The Brag:
“Long story short we are waiting on a reply from Coles, police were informed and have just returned from hospital with something else lodged in her throat, x-ray confirms nothing metal but something foreign from the strawberry,” the father explains.
“She’s in a lot of pain and discomfort and just keeping an eye on her arm.”
Late last year, shoppers across the country emerged with stories detailing needles they found in fruits/vegetables purchased in supermarkets. Mainly being found in strawberries of all fruits, the discoveries went from one, to many, and spread out across Australia.
Shoppers went into panic mode and immediately moved to avoid strawberries. Meanwhile, retailers canned the sale of the fruits, turning away deliveries. Eventually, in November, a woman was charged over the needle crisis in Queensland.
Just when we thought that was the end of the fruitful mystery, a new case of the rather sharp strawberries has emerged. But this time, in the Victorian suburb of Eltham, just 20km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD.
Shocked as you would be, the customer reporting this issue has taken the matter online to alert community members. Concerned parent, and social media user Dave Chapman took to Facebook to express his dismay at the alarming inclusion in his step-daughter’s fruit.
With a photo attached to his post, Chapman said: “Heads Up with strawberries…. stepdaughter just copped this.”
He then explains the strawberries in question were purchased at the Coles store in Eltham.
Read the full post below:
THE BRAG has issued a request for a statement to Coles Australia, and to Victoria Police. For now, folks, you best cut your strawberries before you take a bite.
