The Australian strawberry industry is being needled - but it's no joke
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (338682)
Rockingham, Australia
September 17, 2018 4:28am CST
The Australian strawberry industry has been rocked by the discovery of sewing needles in punnets of fruit being sold in supermarkets. Needles have been found in various brands and today Western Australia had its first reported case. This means every Australian state has now reported needles in punnets of strawberries.
Affected brands have been pulled from the shelves of supermarkets with some stores pulling all brands, not just those so far found to be affected. Consumers are being asked to continue buying strawberries but to cut them in half before use.
Tonnes of fruit are being dumped as producers are unable to sell their product. One can only wonder who could be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this. It is very distressing for strawberry growers and very worrying for consumers. If enough products were sabotaged in similar ways, a country could be brought to its knees.
35 people like this
36 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
17 Sep 18
I love strawberries and just put them in my mouth without thinking that somebody might have stuck something in it. The thought is really scary.
4 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
18 Sep 18
@JudyEv It's a scary thought. Maybe I should also cut up my banana.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Sep 18
@1hopefulman It's only in Australia at the moment. Hopefully no-one will copycat it overseas.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
18 Sep 18
I agree with you. I hope they discontinue doing it. 
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87737)
• Bangalore, India
17 Sep 18
I am shocked to know that you have needles in between Strawberries. It is horrible.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Sep 18
@arunima25 Hopefully anyone who is eating strawberries at the moment will be careful to cut them in half.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (87737)
• Bangalore, India
18 Sep 18
@JudyEv It is scary. Imagine if young children are not careful to cut in half before eating.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Sep 18
@JudyEv Sure, how come it can be funny? It can be a very serious hurt for the people who eat the strawberries, especially the little children. I think these people just want to take revenge to the society and they are real losers and criminals.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (179765)
• United States
17 Sep 18
That is terrible! It sounds like something that would happen here..but we have so many growers from so many places that it would be impossible to affect too much of the food supply. Score one for independent growers..I guess that is where you Australians will be getting your berries.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (179765)
• United States
18 Sep 18
@JudyEv Psychopaths everywhere I guess!
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16750)
• China
17 Sep 18
It is a shocking thing to hear ! Obviously some people stuck the needles in the strawberries and wanted the strawberry growers to go belly up.
4 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
17 Sep 18
Oh no, that is awful. I don't understand why people do this...
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (105296)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Sep 18
I just would not buy any to be safe. You never know what was on the needle also.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100127)
• India
18 Sep 18
Strange..so is the strawberry plant manufacturing sewing needles naturally or did somebody deliberately do that to strawberries in one farm. Wouldn't the punnets corrode the needle for as long as it stays there, resulting in some harmful toxins? It is, after all, slightly acidic. Then too, when they are sent to make jams what will happen will jam bottles have those needles...I would try to identify the common farm from where the berries came.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Sep 18
The ones who did it are probably sellers or growers of fruits that competes with strawberries in the market, just my wild businessman guess.
4 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
17 Sep 18
That is bitter for a sweet fruit.
The sabotage could really affect the industry and consumers will have second on buying.
The question, who could have do it?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Sep 18
@ilocosboy I know one person was taken to hospital but I haven't heard of any other injuries.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
18 Sep 18
Are anyone victimized by the needle in the strawberry?
2 people like this
@porwest (89388)
• United States
18 Sep 18
I wonder how this sort of thing even happens. I mean, MOST food production facilities in the United States require products to go through metal detection devices. Hmm. Either way, I hope this gets sorted out and they find the maniac responsible. Remember the Tylenol cyanide thing? People have so much faith in the products they buy, but sick people can find a way around the protection measures and hurt and kill people. Sad.
2 people like this
@december873 (63)
•
18 Sep 18
I like strawberries. I tasted sweet strawberries here in the Philippines. I hope someday I can taste strawberries from Australia. The family of my sister is in Adelaide, Australia. If I go to visit them, I will ask from them strawberries.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338682)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Sep 18
@december873 They are investigating it but I don't know how they will catch them.
1 person likes this
@december873 (63)
•
18 Sep 18
@JudyEv that is terrible! Needles in strawberries is so bad. I hope the authorities there will do something to stop that bad activity.
1 person likes this
