Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty
A major New Zealand supermarket chain announced Sunday that it has pulled a brand of Australian strawberries from its shelves after discovering needles inside a container purchased from Auckland. CNN reports that the Choice brand strawberries were removed “as a precautionary measure” after more than 100 reports were filed last week across all six Australian states of sewing needles and pins in strawberry containers, across six brands. The supermarket reported that no injuries have been reported as a result of the needles found in the Choice-brand berries, but it has advised customers to slice their strawberries before consuming them. The Australian government has ordered a federal investigation into the entire berry-needle operation, and the chain is cooperating with authorities. “It’s not a joke. It’s not funny. You’re putting the livelihoods of hardworking Australians at risk and you’re scaring children,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday, according to CNN. “You’re a coward and you’re a grub, and if you do that sort of thing in this country, we will come after you.”