A piece of wire has been found in an apple from a supermarket in Orange after a needle was found in a second strawberry.
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Central West Police District Chief Inspector Peter Atkins said the apple incident was reported to Orange police on Wednesday morning.
“It was bought on the 20th [last Thursday], consumed on the 25th [Tuesday] and reported to police on the 26th [Wednesday],” he said.
Chief Inspector Atkins said it followed two cases of needles being found in strawberries from supermarkets in Orange in the past week.
Chief Inspector Atkins would not confirm whether the three incidents were at separate or the same supermarket.
He said forensic examination of the fruit, wire and needles was being undertaken.
Chief Inspector Atkins urged consumers to cut up their fruit before eating it.
The first strawberry contamination incident was reported to Orange police last Tuesday afternoon.
It was reported the needle was found in a strawberry purchased in Orange on Saturday, September 15.
All strawberries were removed from the supermarket’s shelves.
Inspector Atkins warned that contaminating food was a serious crime which could land people up to 10 years in prison.
READ MORE: Strawberry pins: Boy arrested in NSW
Central West district police issued a warning statement last week.
“NSW Police Force are warning the public of the serious penalties associated with deliberate fruit contamination as investigations continue into the insertion of sewing needles into strawberries,” it said.
Reports of contaminated fruit have been received from all over Australia and at least one report has come from New Zealand since an investigation was launched in Queensland on September 12.
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