Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Hunt orders review of strawberry sabotage
Ongoing strawberry sabotage has prompted Health Minister Greg Hunt to order the food safety authority to assess the state’s handling of the contamination.
September 16, 2018
Health Minister Greg Hunt has ordered the national food safety watchdog to assess the state’s handling of strawberry contamination.
It comes as police investigate claims that needle sabotage has now spread to six brands of strawberries in four states.
Coles and Aldi supermarkets have pulled all strawberries from their shelves across the country, except Western Australia, as a precaution over needle contamination fears.
Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook Berries branded fruit have recalled their strawberries nationwide.
Police are also investigating contamination of fruit sold by Delightful Strawberries, Love Berries and Oasis in stores in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT.
“This is a very vicious crime and it’s a general attack on the public, and it’s also an attack on a specific industry,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Mr Hunt said while it was primarily a problem for the states, he had asked his department to request Food Standards Australia New Zealand make an “immediate appraisal” of the situation.