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A brand-new case of fruit contamination has been discovered today in Queensland. Police have confirmed that a ‘metal object’ has been found within a Queensland banana, the news coming just days after sewing needles were discovered inside a punnets of strawberries.
Ian Stewart, the Queensland Police Commissioner, has confirmed that the authorities are currently investigating the incident, but as yet there are no firm details as to where the banana was found.
The banana incident follows the events of last week, where six brands (Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis brands, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious) of Australian strawberries we recalled from shelves across the nation after sewing needles were discovered to be hidden within the fruit in Queensland, and as far away as Perth, Tasmania and New Zealand. South Australian police are now also investigating a second case where a punnet of strawberries contaminated with sewing needles were purchased from a supermarket in Adelaide Hills on Saturday afternoon. The brand was Mal’s Black Label Strawberries.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Queensland police are still unsure if the sabotage devastating the nation’s strawberry industry is the work of a single person or several people acting independently.
A manhunt is currently underway for the culprit of the banana incident and Queensland State Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk has offered a reward of $100,000 for anyone with information that leads to the capture of those responsible for the meal object found within the banana.
Despite the coincidences between the strawberry and banana cases, a spokesperson for Commissioner Ian Stewart says the strawberry and banana cases are likely not related.
“It looks to be a copycat thing,” they said.
UPDATE:
News.com.au reports that a spokesman for the Premier has clarified a person with a mental health issue put the object in the banana.
Commissioner Ian Stewart did not provide details of the case at the time.
“We have a report about once incident involving a banana – that is the only one of those that we’ve had so far, that I’m aware of,” Commissioner Stewart told reporters.
“Sadly, there are those in the community who perhaps don’t understand the harm they’re doing.”
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