Police allege man contaminated products with syringe at supermarket

A man who allegedly stuck a syringe into a loaf of bread at a Melbourne supermarket has faced court.

A Melbourne man allegedly licked a needle before he put it in a loaf of bread at a suburban Woolworths supermarket, a court has heard.

Fue Yang has been charged with one count of contaminating goods and committing an indictable offence on bail over allegations he inserted “soiled hypodermic syringes” into the food at the Roxburgh Park Woolworths on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old man was refused entry to the supermarket by a security guard who spotted him with a “bloodstained tissue” and bloody needles, police allege in court documents.

Images of the needles Yang allegedly put in the loaves of bread. Supplied.

But he waited until the guard went on a break and entered the supermarket, according to court documents.

Police allege Yang opened a packet of bread, licked a needle and pushed it into the loaf before he was confronted by a witness who asked: “what do you think you’re doing?”.

The accused man apologised and started to run away, according to court documents.

Police confirmed they were called to the Somerton Rd supermarket after reports of a man “behaving erratically”.

A loaf of bread allegedly tampered with. Supplied.

“On arrival police were told that a man had entered the store and contaminated a number of products by poking them with a syringe,” Sergeant Madeline Gillard said.

“He then left the store. The products were removed from the shelves and police searched for the man.”

A Woolworths spokesman confirmed the store removed all of the bread from the shelves on Tuesday night.

He said if any customers had concerns about bread they purchased from the store on Tuesday they could return it for a refund.

Police are investigating after a man was seen sticking a syringe into bread at Woolworths in Roxburgh Park.

The spokesman said the company was aware of the incident and was assisting police with the investigation.

“Police attended the store and we have provided CCTV footage to help identify the man,” he said.

Woolworths said the bread was either turned over to police as evidence or thrown out.

Yang was not required to plea as it was his first appearance, will remain in custody and is expected to face court on November 13.

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