NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

NZ Food Safety believe needles found in food are isolated incidents

NZ Herald
27 Nov, 2018 12:57 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
New Zealand Food Safety's director of food regulation Paul Dansted said there is no evidence of any risks in the supply chain or the food safety system. Photo / File

New Zealand Food Safety's director of food regulation Paul Dansted said there is no evidence of any risks in the supply chain or the food safety system. Photo / File

A leading voice on food safety says recent reports of needles concealed in fruit and vegetables are isolated incidents but backs a supermarket's decision to take capsicums off the shelves.

New Zealand Food Safety's director of food regulation Paul Dansted said they were aware of a report of a needle found in a capsicum purchased from a Tauranga Countdown.

"New Zealand Food Safety's primary concern is protecting consumers," he said.

"The store in question decided to remove capsicums from its shelves as a precaution and we support that decision."

Police are investigating the claim after a customer reportedly found the needle in a red capsicum he purchased from Countdown Bureta Park.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A Countdown spokesperson previously told the Herald the incident has been referred to the New Zealand Police and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Dansted said New Zealand Food Safety would continue to provide support and information to police where needed.

"At this stage, we have no reason to believe this case, or the earlier reported needle in a strawberry of the weekend, are anything but isolated incidents."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The contaminated fruit was reportedly was purchased at a supermarket in South Canterbury's Geraldine was over the weekend.

In September, three needles were found in strawberries in New Zealand, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries.They were all in one punnet.

"We've no evidence of any risks in the supply chain or the food safety system," Dansted said.

"Rather, this is a potentially criminal activity with severe penalties and it is being treated as such.

Discover more

Lifestyle

Sewing needles found in strawberries in Australia

12 Sep 08:18 PM
Business

Foodstuffs, Countdown stop sale of Australian strawberries

16 Sep 09:57 PM
World

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

21 Sep 07:40 AM
Business

Needles found in strawberries in Auckland

23 Sep 07:30 AM

"Our advice to consumers remains: if you see something out of the ordinary, please take it to your retailer or give us a call on 0800 00 83 33."

A police spokeswoman said they were aware of the reports and we were making inquiries.

"We are working in close partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries, however it is too early to provide any specific details about the inquiries."

Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) food forensic scientist Darren Saunders said there were a number of ways to determine if an object found in food had been put there maliciously.

The first step in these cases was to look at fingerprints and DNA, he said.

"Then there is the identification of the foreign objects themselves – if you have a thumb tack, needle or a pin you look at simple measurements, like dimensions, then compare it to what's commercially available, analyse its composition – what sort of metal is it – where are these available and so forth," Saunders said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Foreign objects in food were one of the big concerns ESR heard from manufacturers and suppliers, in respect in determining liability, he said.

"They will want to know if it is a malicious case of someone inserting something sharp and horrible into, for instance, their bread. They'll want to know whether it was baked in.

"We had a series of cases with needles found in baked bread and you could tell from the bag by the tiny holes in it that something had been inserted and which direction it came from that is from the outside in."

Saunders said another complaint ESR frequently received related to suspect rodent droppings, which he says on the face of it, can be hard to tell from bits of burnt grease or other food ingredients.

"But under the microscope, you'll find actual faecal material contains rodent hair.

"That's because when rodents groom themselves they consume their own hair, and hair can often be identified down to a species level. Mice hairs for instance are very characteristic."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said one complaint involving hair came from a milk company, which was continually finding ginger hairs in its on-line filter.

"We identified it as coming from a cat, so you get this image of the cat waiting until night time and jumping into the vat. Literally, the cat that got the cream."

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Business

Business

US imposes 15% revenue cut on Nvidia's China sales

Agribusiness

Rural rebound: Farm profitability boosts PGG Wrightson's earnings

Telecommunications
|Updated

Spark sells 75% of its data centre business to Australian firm in deal worth up to $584m


Sponsored

Sponsored: Where smart investors are buying now

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

US imposes 15% revenue cut on Nvidia's China sales
Business

US imposes 15% revenue cut on Nvidia's China sales

Trump called Nvidia's H20 chips obsolete despite prior export restrictions.

11 Aug 10:16 PM
Rural rebound: Farm profitability boosts PGG Wrightson's earnings
Agribusiness

Rural rebound: Farm profitability boosts PGG Wrightson's earnings

11 Aug 10:14 PM
Spark sells 75% of its data centre business to Australian firm in deal worth up to $584m
Telecommunications
|Updated

Spark sells 75% of its data centre business to Australian firm in deal worth up to $584m

11 Aug 09:31 PM


Sponsored: Where smart investors are buying now
Sponsored

Sponsored: Where smart investors are buying now

10 Aug 05:45 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP