Police investigate in Gatton, west of Brisbane, after silver rod found in punnet two days after needles discovered

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Police in Queensland say they are investigating a suspected “copycat” incident after a small silver rod was found in a punnet of strawberries at a supermarket west of Brisbane.

As police searched for a culprit who put sewing needles in strawberries, the state’s chief medical officer was forced to update her advice following the discovery of the metal rod at a Coles in Gatton on Thursday morning.

“Yesterday, I said anyone that had bought those products since the start of last week needed to dispose of them,” Dr Jeanette Young said on Thursday.

Strawberries scare: consumers urged to throw out fruit after needles found inside Read more

“I now say given that there’s been these additional incidents, unrelated to that particular product, my advice is to be ultra cautious and simply cut up those strawberries before consuming them.”

Police said a Coles employee had discovered the silver rod in a punnet of strawberries they had purchased at work.

“It was lying on top of the strawberries, not inserted per se,” said Det Chief Supt Terry Lawrence, who described it as a “potential or suspected copycat” incident.

“I’m urging anybody who finds something within their strawberries to report to or telephone police link.

“Police will eventually come and collect those strawberries and the potential evidence from you.”

Young said the two brands of strawberries recalled on Wednesday – Berry Obsession and Berrylicious – were no longer on shelves.

Sunshine Coast strawberry farmer Adrian Schultz said, with many farmers already struggling after a tough season, the fear of copycat incidents affecting sales was a concern.

“A copycat scenario could exacerbate the situation ... with an event like this, it could see everybody stop picking.”

Police have also confirmed a fourth case relating to the needles after a young boy in Gladstone ended up with a needle in his mouth on Tuesday after taking strawberries to school.

Angela Stevenson says she was chopping up fruit for her baby when she found a needle embedded in a berry. Realising her son had strawberries in his lunch box she immediately called his school.

“I said I need you to stop him from eating the strawberries. It wasn’t five minutes later they rang back and said it was too late, he’d actually bitten into it,” she told ABC radio.

“Luckily he pulled it back out of his mouth and told the teacher.”

Queensland man Hoani Hearne wound up in hospital after swallowing part of a needle and developing severe abdominal pain on Sunday.

“I bit straight in – knee-jerk reaction was to swallow – and yeah it wasn’t a pleasant surprise,” the 21-year-old told Nine Network.

So far four contaminated punnets have been found – two in Queensland and two in Victoria.

The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association says a disgruntled farm worker may be responsible, as the two brands affected, Berry Obsession and Berrylicious, came from the same farm. Police doubt that theory.

AAP contributed to this report