(iStock)It’s a crime so strange that any motive seems nearly inconceivable: In Australia, someone is placing sewing needles inside strawberries — endangering those who eat them and sending panic across strawberry markets as prices plummet and government officials scramble to find a culprit. In recent days, a number of people in Australia have opened boxes of strawberries they purchased at supermarkets, only to find that the fruit has small sewing needles or pins stuck inside. Some Australians have posted photos on social media showing needles they found in their berries. The Australian newspaper reported that there have been at least seven reported cases in three Australian states, raising concerns that copycats are working separately to contaminate the berries. In a statement this week, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said it had “reason to suspect” that a disgruntled former employee was responsible for placing needles in the strawberries.

Source: Washington Post September 15, 2018 18:33 UTC