Consumers are being urged to throw out strawberries purchased over the past week in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria after needles were found inside the fruit.
Health officials and police on Wednesday said sewing needles were hidden in at least three punnets of strawberries supplied to Woolworths from a southeast Queensland farm.
Those strawberries were bought in Queensland and Victoria, but it is unclear if the brands involved, Berry Obsession and Berry Liscious, are supplied to other retailers.
"I'm out here today to advise people if they've bought any strawberries in Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria since early last week, that they should dispose of them," Queensland Health's chief health officer Jeanette Young said.
"If someone were to swallow a sewing needle it could get caught up in their gut."
Police launched an investigation on Sunday after a Queensland man reported swallowing a contaminated berry.
Source: ABC; Facebook/ Joshua Gane
Two people in Victoria have since come forward after similar experiences.
Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence would not say at what point in the supply chain police believe the needles were planted.
He declined to name the farm involved but said investigators had been in contact with its operator and Woolworths representatives.
The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association has pointed the finger at a disgruntled former employee.
"At this time, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association have reason to suspect that a disgruntled ex-employee may have orchestrated the occurrence, wherein sewing needles were found in a number of strawberries.
Woolworths removed strawberries from its shelves on Wednesday and consumers can be confident in purchasing them from Thursday onwards, Dr Young added.
