The investigation begins to find how the needle found in a sweet pepper

Police and MPI are still investigating how what appears to be a needle ends with a pepper in Tauranga.

As part of this investigation, officials will review the records of companies that have had contact with the vegetable.

The needle-shaped object was discovered by a Tauranga couple who bought the vegetable in a Countdown supermarket on November 24th. It follows a series of food safety issues in Australia in which needles were found in strawberries.

An MPI spokeswoman said her investigation will include examining the evidence provided by the person who reported the needle to determine how it could have been introduced into the food, as well as the communication with the retailer.

"We will work with this retailer to trace the supply chain.This includes the review of records relating to the receipt of goods and distribution, as well as a follow-up with manufacturers, packers and producers, if any. "

READ MORE: Needle found in capsicum bought at Tauranga countdown this weekend

All businesses were required to maintain records of the food and products they purchased or sold, as well as the persons to whom they were imported or sold. These are the documents that will be examined by the officials.

The couple then contacted the supermarket immediately.

A countdown spokeswoman said the store had returned the case to the New Zealand police who would investigate. The supermarket in question had also removed the capsules from its shelves as a precaution, an initiative supported by the MPI.

The MPI spokeswoman said that it was believed that the case, as well as an earlier incident in which a needle had been found in a strawberry in New Zealand, were isolated incidents.

"We have no evidence of risk in the supply chain or in the food safety system, rather it is a potentially criminal activity punishable by severe penalties and it is treated as such. "