Here's why Australians are now afraid of eating strawberries

Australia is facing a weird crisis of food tampering as needles have reportedly been found in fruits, especially strawberries. More than 100 alleged incidents of pins and needles being found in fruit since the scare began in Queensland state earlier this month.

Now a major Australian supermarket chain, Woolworths, has taken sewing needles off its shelves amid reports that some elements have been piercing of supermarket strawberries with sewing needles.

However, cops have complained that the vast majority of the 100 reported cases were hoaxes, and warned that pranksters posting images on Facebook claiming that they have discovered tainted fruit could also face prosecution and potential jail time.


The nationwide scare has prompted Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison to demand sentences of up to 15 years for food tampering and he equated it with terrorism.

The scare has prompted a series of supermarket recalls, and some stores in New Zealand have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries.

Farmers have been forced to pulp fruit and lay off pickers because of slower sales and lower wholesale prices.