A Melbourne Couple Finds Two Needs in Their Grocery Grapes—and Is Quite Surprised!
On New Year’s Day, a Melbourne couple—Mr. Skender Hasa and his partner, Ms. Shams Alsubaiy—were shaking a bag of seedless green grapes from Woolworths in Craigieburn. What they discovered inside sent a chill down their spines.
The Crushing Moment
While picking up a grape to finish dinner, Ms. Alsubaiy accidentally pricked her finger. “I was only poking it, and then I cut it open to see if it was fine. Turns out there was a tiny needle sticking right through it!” she recalls.
They Didn’t Just Find One—They Found Two
- Every grape in the bag was inspected. After opening each one, the pair uncovered a second needle, hiding in the juicy fruit.
- Ms. Alsubaiy is pregnant. She told the reporters she was relieved she hadn’t swallowed the hidden metal before her baby could experience any harm.
- The police are on the case. An official statement assured the public that contamination reports would be examined thoroughly, with public safety at the forefront.
- Woolworths responded promptly. The supermarket said they would collaborate closely with authorities while the investigation proceeds.
What This Means for the Public
Police are urging anyone who finds nails, needles or other foreign objects in food to report it immediately. The law is strict: anyone who contaminates food could be charged with a serious felony and face up to ten years behind bars.
When the Needle Problem Reached the Strawberries
Last September, hundreds of strawberry shipments across Australia and New Zealand were found contaminated with pins and needles. Supermarkets pulled those boxes off shelves, and some farmers had to discard their entire harvest—an overnight nightmare for the fruit industry.
Wrapping it Up
This incident, first reported by The Straits Times, has set off a chain reaction of caution across the food supply chain. While the couple’s grapes may have been the latest surprise, authorities and supermarkets are tightening their safety nets more than ever.
