Strawberry recall: Disgruntled ex-employee believed to be behind sewing needles in strawberries 
 
 Updated 
 
 The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association suspects a disgruntled ex-employee was behind the sewing needles found in a number of strawberries sold by Woolworths. 
 
 In a statement, the association said it had "reason to suspect" it was a former employee and was waiting on more information from Queensland police. 
 
 Police and Queensland Health have warned consumers to dispose or return punnets of two brands of strawberries — Berry Licious and Berry Obsession — which were sold in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. 
 
 Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the contaminated brands came from a farm in south-east Queensland, and were sold to Woolworths, but could also have been distributed to other stores. 
 
 "If they do have any strawberries it would be safest to dispose of them," Dr Young said. 
 
 Strawberries Australia's industry development officer Jennifer Rowling said it was an isolated incident and strawberries in general were safe to eat, recommending people "chop them in half", if they were still concerned. 
 
 "It's quite devastating for our growers — they're really upset about it obviously, because this is their livelihood, and someone has taken it upon themselves to do something really nasty," Ms Rowling said. 
 
 "As far as we're concerned, our growers take pride in what they produce." 
 
 Man in hospital after swallowing 'half a sewing needle' 
 
 Dr Young said three incidents have been reported to police, including one in Queensland and two in Victoria. 
 
 "One person did consume a contaminated strawberry and they're being assessed at the moment," she said. 
 
 A Facebook user posted a warning several days ago about a punnet of Berry Obsession strawberries purchased from Woolworths at the Strathpine Centre on Brisbane's northside, after his friend swallowed "half a sewing needle". 
 
 "We then checked the other strawberries and found another sewing needle lodged inside one of them," Joshua Gane said. 
 
 "We are now at the ER because he subsequently started experiencing severe abdominal pain." 
 
 Mr Gane later said they received a call from the store manager at the Strathpine Centre who said it would be issuing a total recall on all of the punnets. 
 
 "They suspect it is foul play, but unsure whether it was via the supplier, Woolworths or a customer," the post said. 
 
 Needles added deliberately, police say 
 
 Queensland Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence from the State Crime Command said police believed the contamination was deliberate. 
 
 "[It's been done] obviously to injure somebody," he said. 
 
 "Police have spoken to the person who operates the farm and they are assisting us with our inquiries," he said. 
 
 Authorities across the three states were investigating to find the culprits. 
 
 In a statement, a spokesperson for Woolworths said it had taken the contaminated strawberries from the shelves, while the incident was being investigated with the suppliers. 
 
 "Customers are advised to return these products to their local Woolworths for a full refund," the spokesperson said. 
 
 Police believe they have contained the threat and assured consumers would be able to safely buy strawberries again from Thursday, when stock is replaced. 
 
 Topics: health, crime, law-crime-and-justice, food-safety, consumer-protection, australia, qld, nsw, vic, strathpine-4500, brisbane-4000 
 
 First posted 

 Image caption Health officials have warned people purchasing strawberries to be cautious (file photo) 
 
 Australians have been warned to cut fresh strawberries before biting into them after several people found sewing needles hidden inside the fruit. 
 
 Contaminated punnets have been reported in supermarkets in the states of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. 
 
 One man was taken to hospital after eating a strawberry with a needle inside. A nine-year old boy bit into a contaminated fruit but did not swallow. 
 
 Several brands of strawberries have been withdrawn. 
 
 These include Donnybrook strawberries and those sold by the Woolworths Group under the Berry Obsession and Berry Licious names. 
 
 Health officials have urged people purchasing the fruit to be cautious. 
 
 The warnings came after a contaminated punnet was reported by Joshua Gane, who wrote in a Facebook post that a 21-year-old friend had suffered "severe abdominal pain". 
 
 "Until advised, consumers should cut up strawberries before consuming them," Queensland Health later said in a statement posted on Twitter. 
 
 Jennifer Rowling of the Queensland Strawberry Growers' Association said she believed the strawberries had been "interfered with". 
 
 She referred to the problem as "an isolated incident" and "sabotage". 
 
 Australia's strawberry industry is worth some A$130m ($94m; £70m) a year and there are concerns that such incidents could have a lasting detrimental impact on sales.
– Reports out of three Aussie states have strawberry lovers checking their fresh fruit carefully. The BBC and ABC Australia report that sewing needles have been found embedded in strawberries, from six different brands, that came out of supermarkets in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, per NSW police. Queensland Health said in a Thursday tweet that "consumers should cut up strawberries before consuming them," even if they're not from one of the six named makers. Three brands—Donnybrook Berries, Berry Licious, and Berry Obsession—have been taken off the shelves completely. Among the reports cited by the BBC are a 9-year-old boy who's said to have bit into a strawberry with a needle (he didn't swallow it) and a 21-year-old man who reportedly went to the ER after he ingested half a needle and experienced "severe abdominal pain." A rep from the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association tells the BBC she thinks it was "sabotage," and in a statement, the QSGA says it has "reason to suspect" that an ex-supermarket employee is behind it all, per ABC.