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Australian police on Sunday arrested and accused a 50-year-old woman of having contaminated strawberries with needles, the latest chapter of a public health alert in the country since mid-September.
The woman, whose identity has not yet been unveiled by the police, is the subject of seven counts of property contamination, according to a statement issued by Queensland police.
Strawberries containing needles were first reported on September 8 in Queensland, the third most populous of the six Australian states, after a 21-year-old man who had unwittingly consumed one of the contaminated berries had been transported to the hospital with "severe abdominal pain. "
"On the way to the coast when Hoani van Dorp bites into a strawberry and swallows half a sewing needle," wrote Joshua Gane, the victim's friend in a Facebook post at the time. "We then checked the other strawberries and found another sewing needle stuck inside one of them."
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The Queensland authorities informed the public of the security risk on 12 September and reports that needle – filled strawberries were present in all Australian states in the following weeks. Among the people who found the enriched fruit, there was a 7-year-old girl from southern Australia.
The suspect is scheduled to appear Monday at the Brisbane Court of First Instance. According to her, she faces 10 years in prison if she is convicted.
The widespread panic related to needlesticks prompted the recall of six brands: Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious.
Needles would also have been found in at least one mango and at least one banana, although it is unclear whether there were isolated incidents, possibly performed by an imitator, or if they were related to the fear of strawberries.
Queensland Strawberry Growers Association Vice President Adrian Schultz told the Associated Press in September that what began as a simple act of "commercial terrorism" had put a multi-million dollar industry on their knees. .
"I'm angry for all the partners, it's the farmers, the suppliers, the packers, the truckers with the families to support, who are suddenly losing their jobs … it's a far-reaching one," Schultz said. .
Strawberry association officials said "that they had reason to suspect that a former unhappy employee" from Woolworth, the supermarket where many strawberries were sold, was at the time. origin of the contamination.
The Queensland police released little details in the announcement of his arrest Sunday and did not speculate on a motive. Queensland Police Detective Jon Wacker said "that a significant amount of resources" had been allocated to the case.
"This is a major and unprecedented police investigation that involves many complexities," said Wacker in a statement. "Although the investigation is far from over, I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our investigators as well as members of all other Australian agencies who have played a role."
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