Queensland Health investigation determines object found in Gold Coast man’s pie was ‘plastic covered cardboard’

An investigation by Queensland Health has found an object discovered inside a pie sold to a Gold Coast man was a piece of plastic covered cardboard.

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AN INVESTIGATION by Queensland Health has found an object discovered inside a pie sold to a Gold Coast man was a piece of plastic covered cardboard.

Mudgeeraba man Brett Smith, 54, complained he found an item hidden inside a Pie Face mini chicken and mushroom pie sold at United Carrara on Nerang Broadbeach Rd on February 28.

Queensland Health launched an investigation to determine what exactly was found in the pie.

It has now been confirmed “the foreign matter was examined under a stereo microscope and found to have characteristics consistent with plastic covered cardboard”.

The object found in the pie was “plastic covered cardboard”. Picture: Jerad Williams

Earlier, a United Petroleum spokesperson said: “Pie Face are investigating the source of the food grade blue plastic fragment allegedly found in a mini pie”

“Pie Face are committed to producing and selling premium products for our customers, which are enjoyed by thousands of satisfied consumers,” a statement read.

Pie Face said in a separate statement it has “stringent manufacturing safeguards”, that all products in the batch were immediately isolated and a formal investigation was completed.

“The mini pies were made by a third-party manufacturer The Outback Pie Co, who make some Pie Face products to our recipe under contract,” it read.

United announced it had bought Pie Face in 2017.

Gold Coast man finds object hidden in Pie Face pie

March 3: A self-styled “pieologist” from the Gold Coast says he will avoid chowing down on the Aussie delicacies again after claiming he found a Band-Aid concealed in a servo pie.

Mudgeeraba man Brett Smith, who owns a lawn-mowing business, said he enjoyed a visit to Carrara Markets on Sunday before he bought a Pie Face pie to eat at United Carrara on Nerang Broadbeach Rd.

Brett Smith with a Pie Face pie he says he purchased from the United servo. Picture: Jerad Williams

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Mr Smith, 54, said he made the find after he took a bite of the chicken and mushroom pastry and stripped it of its lid to let it cool down.

“I bought it on Sunday morning. I was doing a bit of hunting around at the markets and then stopped at United service station,” he said.

“I bought a couple a couple of pies to tide us over. I had a bite and it was still so hot, you don’t want to burn your tongue, you know.

“The lid has come off and then I find the plastic, blue Band-Aid.

“If they didn’t make the pies so hot I probably wouldn’t have found it and would have eaten the bloody thing.”

Mr Smith said he was blown away by the find, which turned him off eating pies.

“Mate, I’m a pieologist and I’ve eaten pies for 50 years,” he said.

“Think I’ll have to make them myself or something.”

Mr Smith said he phoned Pie Face, which is now owned by United, on Monday morning and the company requested photos and more information.

Pie Face is owned by United.

“Well, whatever they do, I don’t want a pie again. I really don’t want them to give me another pie,” Mr Smith said.

“Whether they compensate me with pies, or compensate me at all, I’m not really interested.

“There shouldn’t be a band aid in the bloody pie you’re supposed to eat, you know?’’

Pie Face pies are now stocked in United service stations. Picture: Geoff Ward.

A United Petroleum spokesperson said: “Pie Face are investigating the source of the food grade blue plastic fragment allegedly found in a mini pie. Pie Face are committed to producing and selling premium products for our customers, which are enjoyed by thousands of satisfied consumers.”

United announced in 2017 it had bought Pie Face as part of a “diversified growth strategy”.

Pie Face was founded in 2003 but fell into administration in 2014, owning tens of millions of dollars before United came knocking.