Needles in strawberries...

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surfisup1000

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Topic # 243082 26-Nov-2018 12:24

We've stopped buying strawberries from unknown sources, as it seems to have become a sport for criminals to poke needles into them.

I notice that there is another recent case...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/108867985/police-investigating-after-needle-found-in-strawberry-purchased-at-south-island-supermarket

Strawberries are nice enough but I am not fussed if we go without, or we can visit berry farms if we want some for xmas.

Am I alone in being worried about needles in strawberries, or am I being a bit paranoid?

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Reply # 2134363 26-Nov-2018 12:26

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You are being a bit paranoid.

Gilco2

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Reply # 2134375 26-Nov-2018 12:40

Unfortunately there are a lot of sickos out there and will always be copycats. Any of these sickos can go to a self pick berry farm and insert needles as well. We hope they have given up but doesnt matter where you buy from there is always a risk. Just buy at your preferred place and check them before you eat them is the only way to know for sure.

MikeB4

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Reply # 2134408 26-Nov-2018 13:10

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I don't believe being cautious about what you eat is being paranoid.

Mike
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gzt

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Reply # 2134410 26-Nov-2018 13:12

just when you thought it was over..

gzt

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Reply # 2134411 26-Nov-2018 13:16

surfisup1000:
We've stopped buying strawberries from unknown sources, as it seems to have become a sport for criminals to poke needles into them.

My understanding was this affected only Australian sourced strawberries, and it was over with an arrest.

How long are strawbs kept in cold storage?

Not much info in the article. Too early to know what source was affected.

Oblivian

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Reply # 2134414 26-Nov-2018 13:16

Given commercial packaging goes through metal detection at a few of the stages of packaging you have no choice but to point fingers at copycats at the end of the line.

Similar to the women in Australia. Has to be on the shelf or in the store/distribution point that someone is doing it. And I'd like to think distribution have strict handling and cameras to find someone doing it working backwards pretty quick.

sbiddle

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Reply # 2134421 26-Nov-2018 13:28

gzt:
surfisup1000:

We've stopped buying strawberries from unknown sources, as it seems to have become a sport for criminals to poke needles into them.

My understanding was this affected only Australian sourced strawberries, and it was over with an arrest.

How long are strawbs kept in cold storage?

Not much info in the article. Too early to know what source was affected.

These are NZ strawberries and the issue is copycats.

The problem with being paranoid is that you'll then probably never eat anything. It's just as easy to stick a needle into a banana or an orange but people haven't done that.

surfisup1000

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Reply # 2134424 26-Nov-2018 13:33

Yep, true, but for some reason the problem has been isolated to strawberries. There have been other reports of this happening in NZ too.

I do get paranoid about food safety and i don't like the thought of needles/razor blades being placed where they should not. I guess it is one of those personality traits that some people have.

The punishment for doing this should be a decent number of years in prison.

dfnt

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Reply # 2134425 26-Nov-2018 13:33

I usually cut strawberries anyway so would come across any contaminants in them.

Either way, it hasn't stopped me buying strawberries, if anything I've been buying more

MikeB4

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Reply # 2134426 26-Nov-2018 13:38

@sbiddle To follow up the "The problem with being paranoid is that you'll then probably never eat anything" this tells me that you would say that I am paranoid about what I eat or drink. I check dates, source, content and packaging of products I consume. For example if teh packaging looks an any way compromised or not sealed I will not use it. Food and drink can easily make me very ill or worse dead. So being cautious is not being paranoid, in fact it is being prudent.

Mike
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MikeAqua

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Reply # 2134431 26-Nov-2018 13:47

Chuck each strawberry on on the induction hob on boost and see if it starts to sizzle. If not, good to go.

Or just cut into quarters.

Mike

MikeAqua

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Reply # 2134434 26-Nov-2018 13:50

MikeB4:

@sbiddle To follow up the "The problem with being paranoid is that you'll then probably never eat anything" this tells me that you would say that I am paranoid about what I eat or drink. I check dates, source, content and packaging of products I consume. For example if the packaging looks an any way compromised or not sealed I will not use it. Food and drink can easily make me very ill or worse dead. So being cautious is not being paranoid, in fact it is being prudent.

In your case it's clearly essential. A member of my family requires similar precautions.

But how much caution do you apply regarding malicious contamination of your food - needles etc?

Mike

landcruiserguy

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Reply # 2134473 26-Nov-2018 13:59

This isn't the only thing you should worry about. Remember that almost all fruit is hand picked by low paid people with poor access to toilets and hygiene facilities. It's entirely possible to get hep c or other nasty diseases from eating something as simple as an apple. I am not saying that you should stop eating fruit, just the needles in strawberries are probably a lower risk than the current risks that we live with every day.

mattwnz

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Reply # 2134478 26-Nov-2018 14:08

It is somewhat ironic that NZ now has all these really strict food safety procedures that have just been introduced. These make it very difficult for very small boutique food producers to stay in business due to all the compliance costs involved. But there doesn't seem to be much when it comes to fresh fruit. IMO anyone caught tampering with food should be dealt with very harshly.

eracode

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Reply # 2134483 26-Nov-2018 14:12

MikeAqua:

Chuck each strawberry on on the induction hob on boost and see if it starts to sizzle. If not, good to go.

Or just cut into quarters.

... or get a BF magnet you can hover over them. Any that jump up is dodgy.

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