A Queensland man posted this photo of a strawberry with a needle in it after reporting his friend swallowed one.

The "parasites" responsible for spiking Australian strawberries should do hard time in jail, says Australia's Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.

Copycats and pranksters who insert pins and needles into Australian fruit are being hunted by police, with one boy already arrested in New South Wales while fresh cases continue to emerge across the state.

Needles have been found in more than 20 punnets of strawberries across NSW and potentially 100 pieces of fruit across Australia in the week since the sabotage was first detected in Queensland.

The Australian government is rushing legislation through parliament to ratchet up the maximum penalties for so-called "food terrorists" from 10 to 15 years behind bars.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants the tough sanctions approved before federal politicians depart Canberra on Thursday.

"I'm just focused on making sure no idiot goes into a supermarket this weekend and does something ridiculous," Morrison told reporters.

ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN/FAIRFAX AUSTRALIA "Stick it up these parasites by going into the supermarkets and buying strawberries," says Australia's Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.

Labor's shadow cabinet will meet on Thursday morning to consider the legislation.

"It's a despicable act for anything like this to happen. The full weight of the law should be thrown at people," Labor frontbencher Tony Burke told Sky News.

"We need to just make sure that we don't reach a level of hysteria at any level of government, state or federal, that also causes harm to a good industry."

Anyone who tampers with food could soon face up to 15 years' jail, in line with child pornography and terror financing offences.

There will also be a new offence of being reckless in causing harm, which will carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

ANDREW QUILTY/FAIRFAX MEDIA There are reports of another contaminated banana.

The most serious cases with national security implications will be covered by sabotage offences, with penalties ranging from seven to 25 years' jail.

"The reality is that ... they've got to do some time," Littleproud told ABC radio.

"The one thing that people can do better than government is go and buy strawberries. Stick it up these parasites by going into the supermarkets and buying strawberries."

The agriculture minister has not received a full briefing from police as to where their investigations are at.

The Queensland and NSW governments are offering a reward to catch the culprits.

The government is also providing A$1 million (NZ$1.09 million) to make more food safety officials available to increase detection, fast-track recalls and assist the industry to rebuild confidence.

One young boy has already been arrested over behaviour that "could be called a prank", police said.

SUPPLIED/SYDNEY MORNING HERALD Thousands of strawberries are being left to rot in Queensland after needles were found buried within a few.

Investigators believed the original sabotage was confined to three strawberry brands sold in Queensland, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.

"Obviously in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries, and he'll be dealt with under the youth cautioning system," he said.

"The offence is very clear, whether it's done with the intention of prank, whether it's done with the intention of serious harm to another individual, it's no different.

"They're going to be charged with that offence and they're going to appear before a court."

A police source told AAP they were mindful of confirming specific cases for fear of inspiring more copycats.

In NSW, the maximum penalty for deliberately contaminating a food source is 10 years in jail.

Meanwhile, reports emerged on Wednesday evening of another contaminated banana in Newcastle, north of Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers.

"It is beyond belief that anybody would deliberately sabotage fruit to try and harm people in the process, harm our hardworking fruit farmers and the industry," she told Parliament.

"This is a disgusting act designed to instil fear in consumers and to undermine our agricultural industry."

NSW produces around 1 per cent of Australia's strawberries. The state's strawberry picking season is expected to begin in the next six weeks, according to the premier.

- Fairfax Media and AAP