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The fruit contamination crisis has widened with the Queensland police confirming that they are investigating an incident where a metal object would have been found inside a banana, while that sabotaged strawberries were found until New Zealand.
The fruit contamination crisis has widened with the Queensland police confirming that they are investigating an incident where a metal object would have been found inside a banana, while that sabotaged strawberries were found until New Zealand.
On Monday afternoon, authorities said that a 62-year-old man was helping to investigate the alleged contamination of a banana in a Maryborough supermarket.
Police consider the alleged contamination as an isolated incident and do not think it is related to other investigations.
"The community is reminded that food contamination is considered a serious offense and a threat to public safety," Queensland police said in a statement, adding that any reported incidents would be subject to thorough investigation.
The Queensland police still do not know if the sabotage that devastated the strawberry industry is the work of one person or several people acting independently.
Metal needles have been found in strawberries in Queensland and as far as Perth, Tasmania and New Zealand.
Commissioner Stewart said the investigation was complicated by the extensive network of supply chains where strawberries are produced and shipped.
"There are a range of very complex scenarios that could play here, and we're all looking at them, and that's what's taking the time," he said on Monday.
Queensland's Minister of Agriculture Mark Furner has met with strawberry growers worried about their future, as the number of cases of needle contamination increases to 10 and New Zealand food distributors remove strawberries Australian from their shelves.
Adrian Schultz, vice-president of the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association, says that what started with a "commercial terrorism act" has now put a multi-million dollar industry on its knees, with jobs beyond the producers.
"I'm angry at all the people involved, it's the farmers, the suppliers, the packers, the truckers with the families to support, the ones who suddenly lose their jobs … it's all big," he said. he told ABC radio. .
The producers met with Mr. Furner on Sunday to discuss the commercial effects of the contamination that began on a farm in southeastern Queensland eight days ago.
Mr. Furner says that industry-specific assistance programs are being considered, but no plan will be developed until we understand the "full effect" of sabotage.
"We will not achieve half-prepared results … we must listen to what is required," he said.
There are about 150 strawberry producers in Queensland.
Mr Furner said that a variety of generic government assistance programs were available and that they would be offered to producers.
He added that many producers were already facing economic difficulties before the start of contamination due to an oversupply of fruit, which resulted in retail prices falling by about $ 1.50 for trays.
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