Strawberry recall – fears for our farmers and strawberry industry

Fears for our strawberry farmers and the strawberry industry emerge as strawberries are recalled from supermarket shelves around Australia after being found to contain needles.

• More cases emerge after nine-year-old boy bites into strawberry with needle in it at school, Queensland mother says
• Two brands recalled were sold in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria
• Growers say fear could devastate strawberry industry if people stopped buying the fruit

In 2006 food laws were introduced making it compulsory for a company to report suspected cases of food tampering.  In Queensland, someone found guilty of deliberately contaminating food to cause public alarm or anxiety faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.  This penalty can also be applied if the person interferes with food to cause members of the public to refrain from purchasing those goods.

Click here to read the full article.