WATCH: More cases of Australians finding sewing needles in their strawberries

A sewing needle was found in a strawberry in Australia. Pexels

A sewing needle was found in a strawberry in Australia. Pexels

Published Sep 17, 2018

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There are mounting fears in Australia and New Zealand about food safety, after a sewing needle was discovered in a strawberry.

Both governments have since launched investigations and so far, six different strawberry producers products has been recalled.

The contamination scare started last week in the state of Queensland and soon spread, as reports emerged of needles found in strawberries in 6 Australian states.

Associated Press reports that the Australian Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt ordered the national food safety watchdog to investigate Queensland's handling of the needle scare.

He directed Food Standards to investigate whether there are supply chain weaknesses that need to be fixed.

"The job is very, very clear. Protect the public and keep them safe," Hunt told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

#BREAKING: The strawberry sabotage threat is intensifying, after a New South Wales mother found four needles hidden in a punnet. #9News pic.twitter.com/JX2S3KxjRd

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) September 14, 2018

Australian supermarkets aren’t taking any chances and have taken certain strawberry brands off their shelves.

There are unconfirmed reports of an Australian man alerting police, after he found in a needle in his sin while washing strawberries and a 7-year-old girl who this weekend found a needle in “a Western Australian-grown strawberry.

It's been difficult for authorities to determine if reported cases are hoaxes, especially when instances of contamination are only reported on social media.

Strawberry producers have now brought in metal detectors to scan their produce before it’s packaged and delivered to supermarkets.

WATCH: Australians find needles in their strawberries

The strawberry sabotage crisis has now stretched nationwide after a needle was found in a punnet in South Australia. #StrawberryRecall #7News pic.twitter.com/x35Tq3FoWn

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 16, 2018

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