Needle found inside Melbourne woman’s birthday cake strawberry

A woman was celebrating her 30th birthday with family when she bit into a chocolate-covered strawberry on her cake. What she pulled out of her mouth shocked everyone, and landed her in hospital.

A chocolate-covered strawberry eaten by a and eaten by a Melbourne woman.

Police are investigating two reports of strawberry needle contamination in the past month from Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Banyule Criminal Investigation Unit detectives confirm they are investigating one strawberry needle contamination case from a Fairfield store on August 25 and another from Eltham on Sunday.

The confirmation comes after a birthday celebration ended up in the emergency room after the second instance of strawberry needle contamination.

Dave Chapman’s 30-year-old stepdaughter Skye was eating a chocolate-covered strawberry on her birthday cake when she noticed a needle lodged in it.

“She bit into it and pulled a needle out of her mouth,” he told the Herald Sun.

“She was a bit taken aback, she felt like something was stuck down her throat.”

Police confirmed they were investigating the Eltham incident after it was reported today.

Empty shelves at a Coles supermarket last September after a needle sabotage spanning four states. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Mr Chapman said the strawberry needle contamination led to an all-nighter in the emergency department at the Austin hospital.

“An X-ray shows it’s not a needle lodged in her throat, we think there’s something else that was stuck in the strawberry,” he said.

“Maybe plastic or a toothpick. She’s swallowed something, but we don’t know what that is.”

The strawberries were allegedly purchased from Coles supermarket in Eltham.

Skye is said to still be a “bit sore” from the encounter.

“No one wins from it,” Mr Chapman said.

“You kind of hope in a way it’s kids doing it, and not adults.

“It could be a disgruntled Collingwood supporter. It’s just very concerning.”

A Coles spokeswoman said the supermarket giant was investigating the matter.

“Coles takes the safety of the food we sell seriously, and we have spoken to the customer to follow up their complaint,” a spokeswoman said.

“We have worked with our strawberry suppliers to implement additional control measures to ensure strawberries are inspected before they are sent to supermarkets.

“We have notified the police and will follow up with our supplier to investigate the matter.”

One of the contaminated strawberries in the spate of 2018 incidents.

This incident comes after a series of deliberate needle contamination wreaked havoc for Australian farmers in 2018.

This led the federal government to introduce laws, including an increase of the maximum jail time for tampering with food from 10 years to 15.

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Berries Australia spokeswoman Rachel Mackenzie said it was working with the authorities to obtain more information.

“The community is reminded that anyone found to be contaminating food products can be charged with a serious indictable offence with penalties including up to 10 years in jail,” a police spokesman said.

Police are appealing for people to take care when consuming fruit and urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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