Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Needles saga: Consumers warned to return Choice strawberries after discovery in Countdown St Lukes punnet

23 Sep, 2018 07:25 PM3 minutes to read
Countdown has warned customers after needles were found in fruit bought at its St Lukes store in Auckland. Photo / File

Countdown has warned customers after needles were found in fruit bought at its St Lukes store in Auckland. Photo / File

NZ Herald

Anyone who has bought Australian Choice brand strawberries are advised to return them after needles were found in a punnet bought at St Lukes Countdown in Auckland.

Police said they received a report on Sunday about a person finding needles inside strawberries they had recently purchased.

"The person who reported the incident was not harmed as the needles were found before anyone had eaten them."

Police were investigating the incident with the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

An MPI spokeswoman said they were aware of a report of needles being found in imported Australian Choice brand strawberries bought recently from St Lukes Countdown in Auckland.

The brand of strawberries was not implicated in the Australian contamination incident and associated recalls.

MPI recommended anyone who had purchased the Choice brand of Australian strawberries should as a precaution return them to the retailer.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and based on the information to date do not believe further action is currently required."

Countdown warned customers to cut up strawberries before eating them.

The supermarket chain has withdrawn the Choice brand strawberries - in which the needles were found - from the shelves at Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice outlets.

Related articles

Lifestyle

Search for culprit in strawberry needle crisis

16 Sep 08:23 PM
Business

Needles concealed in Australian strawberries 'commercial terrorism'

17 Sep 06:00 PM
World

'This is not on': Dad arrested over strawberry needle claim

21 Sep 07:40 AM
New Zealand

Needles found in strawberries in NZ: Farmers eye metal detectors

23 Sep 09:25 AM

The Choice brand of strawberries, sourced from Western Australia, were sold nationwide last week.

"Customers can return any Choice brand of strawberries they may have at home to Countdown for peace of mind and a full refund," the supermarket said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"As an extra precaution and following similar advice from public health authorities in Australia, customers should cut up any Australian strawberries before eating them," it said.

"Countdown is in contact with both New Zealand and Australian authorities as they investigate this matter."

The spokeswoman told the Herald that apart from this discovery, no other strawberries with needles had been reported across the Countdown store network in New Zealand.

Foodstuffs said last week it would halt the distribution of Australian strawberries in New Zealand.

Its supermarkets - Pak'n Save, New World, Four Square - did not stock Choice strawberries.

Strawberry Growers NZ said although the affected berries were from Australia, farmers here were becoming concerned.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Some of those growers were now looking at adding metal detectors to their production line in a bid to reassure consumers.

Executive manager Michael Ahern said some growers had been looking into metal detectors.

About 80 growers were associated with the volunteer industry group but it was estimated there were about 150 strawberry farmers nationwide, not including many smaller businesses.

Ahern said it was important to understand a lot of strawberry sales in New Zealand were carried out at farmers' markets and local areas within communities.

With the season and crop ready in a matter of about two weeks, he said growers were hoping the public would continue to buy the much-loved fruit.

"What really is the question is would consumers be put off by what they're hearing, I guess. And so far not. It's early days, but so far not.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"I'm not too casual about it either. We're very worried. There's a lot of money on the line, it's a seasonal business and I guess we're just trying to manage the unknown."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
New Zealand|Crime

Kingpin bowled: Inside the downfall of a drug lord

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
New Zealand

WorkSafe charges Kiwi energy giant over uncontrolled release of scalding steam

19 Aug 05:00 PM
New Zealand

'He is a legend': Cliff Curtis devastated by uncle's death

19 Aug 05:00 PM
New Zealand|Crime

Exclusive: Family of young children whose human remains found in suitcases are in Asia

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
New ZealandUpdated

John Roughan: Foster fiasco shows it's the rugby leadership that needs a shake-up

19 Aug 05:00 PM

Most Popular

Premium
Insider-trading accused distances himself from Eric Watson
Business

Insider-trading accused distances himself from Eric Watson

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty
Business

Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
WorkSafe charges Kiwi energy giant over uncontrolled release of scalding steam
New Zealand

WorkSafe charges Kiwi energy giant over uncontrolled release of scalding steam

19 Aug 05:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP