A YOUNG mother is horrified after a needle was found in a strawberry punnet bought from a Ballarat at the weekend.
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The woman says the pin was found by her daughter on Sunday as she was cutting up strawberries bought on Saturday from the Coles store at Stockland Wendouree.
It is believed to be the second case found in Ballarat after a Sebastopol supermarket was targeted earlier this month.
In a Facebook post, the mother said was “shattered” by what her daughter had found.
“I couldn't believe it when my daughter came from cutting them up in kitchen and showed me I freaked and got straight onto police,” she said in the post.
A Coles spokesperson said they were concerned by the amount of attacks, believed to now number more than 100 in supermarkets throughout the country.
But the spokesperson said Coles had no plans to withdraw needles or sewing kits from sale.
“Coles takes the quality of all our products seriously. Our customers’ health and safety is our priority,” the spokesperson said.
“We have worked with our suppliers to implement additional control measures to ensure strawberries are inspected before they are sent to supermarkets.
“Customers should continue to follow the advice issued by health authorities to cut all strawberries before they consume them.”
Police say they are investigating claims that needle sabotage has now spread to six brands of strawberries across five states.
Anyone who believes they may have swallowed a needle should call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or speak to their GP.
People who have come across similar instances are also asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: The Courier.