Strawberry growers in Donnybrook, Queensland, shared devastating footage on September 17, showing thousands of strawberries being destroyed as a result of the strawberry needle contamination saga throughout Australia in September.
Stephanie Chheang from Donnybrook Berries said it was “the worst thing to ever happen to my family,” explaining that her family had worked for years to build their strawberry business, only to have sabotaged by “selfish individuals.”
The food contamination scare gripping the nation began on Sunday, September 9, when Brisbane man Hoani Hearne was the first consumer to report a sabotaged berry. He accidentally swallowed a fragment of needle after eating a strawberry and was forced to visit the emergency room experiencing severe abdominal pain. Queensland Police said it was clear that the intent of the culprit was “obviously to injure somebody” and would be dealt with under the criminal code.
By Monday, September 17, cases had been reported in six states and strawberries were recalled from supermarkets around the nation and even in New Zealand. Reports of “metal objects” embedded in bananas and apples also emerged.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday, September 14, the state government would offer a $100,000 reward for information about the culprit. The government also pledged $1 million to an assistance fund to support growers.
In this heartbreaking video, mountains of strawberries from the Donnybrook Berries farm can be seen going to waste.
“My mum works day through to the night, controlling the shed and her 250 employees, making sure her strawberries are packed to perfection,” Chheang said. “This will not stop my family from doing what they do best, if anything they’re going to do better. I thank everyone who supports us and all the other farmers who were affected by this horrible issue.” Credit: Cindy Vutha and Stephanie Chheang via Storyful
