Fruit fly: Northern Territory producer’s mangoes removed from shelves, storage after maggots found in fruit
The Primary Industries Department has demanded all mangoes from a producer in the Northern Territory are fumigated or destroyed after fruit fly maggots were found in fruit bought in SA.
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All mangoes from a Northern Territory producer are being removed from shop shelves and storage after a local customer found fruit fly maggots in the produce.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions confirmed Jarvis fruit fly maggots were living in the fruit.
Executive director of biosecurity Nathan Rhodes said the distributor was now withdrawing all produce from the affected grower sent to SA since October 5.
“Fortunately, in this instance a member of the public, having noticed something unusual in their purchased fruit, contacted us which made it able for us to quickly confirm the presence of fruit fly,” he said.
“On further investigation we determined the infested mango was from a large batch of fruit provided by a distributor that supplies stores in South Australia.”
Mr Rhodes said all of the producer’s mangoes would be either fumigated or destroyed.
“I must stress this detection does not constitute an outbreak of fruit fly and the situation is being closely monitored and managed in collaboration with distributors,” he said.
Jarvis fruit fly is a tropical species, which is unsuited to South Australia’s climatic conditions.
But Mr Rhodes said to ensure consumers and trading partners could maintain confidence in the state’s fruit fly-free status, the stock must still be treated or destroyed.
“As part of our ongoing investigations we are also suspending further consignments from this grower and following up with the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources as to why pre-delivery treatment of the fruit, appears to have failed in this instance,” he said.
Anyone who sees fruit fly signs in their fruit – particularly maggots – should place it in a sealed bag or container and contact the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
For more information, visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly