By now, you must be aware of the news of needles in Australian strawberries. Earlier this week, there was also news of an Aussie mum who found a needle poking out of an apple she was peeling for her daughters. Now, a man shared on Twitter that he found a piece of metal in Singapore strawberries.
Metal Found In Singapore Strawberries
On September 19, Twitter user Dennis Tang shared a picture which shows a strip of metal which he said he found inside a pack of strawberries he bought the previous day.
It is reported that Tang bought the strawberries from "Mahota, a one-stop lifestyle concept which runs a market here."
The Straits Times (ST) reports that Mahota has since removed all strawberries from its store. One batch of the removed Singapore strawberries were reportedly imported from Perth.
While the original Tweet has now been deleted, Tang says he posted the picture to alert his friends and family, and "get the relevant authorities to do the necessary investigations and checks".
AVA Investigating
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is investigating the case, says ST. It has also urged the public not to panic, saying that the brand of Singapore strawberries which allegedly had the metal in, was not one of the affected Aussie brands.
"We urge the public to refrain from speculation and not to panic. As a precautionary measure, consumers who have purchased strawberries from Australia can cut the fruits into small pieces before consumption," said AVA in a statement.
Total Fresh is the Singapore supplier of the isolated "metal in Singapore strawberries" case reported. Apparently, no other complaints have come in about their strawberries.
Meanwhile in Australia, authorities have stepped up on export rules, requesting that exportes should screen their strawberries through X-ray machines or metal detectors.
Here at theAsianparent, we want to remind concerned parents that fruit (including berries) is one of the best sources of nutrients for your kids. There's no need to stop giving them fruit. Just remember to cut up any fruit offered and observe general food hygiene practices for the whole family.
Source: The Straits Times