NORTH PERTH – Perth County OPP officers were called to the Food Basics store here on Wallace Avenue North after they received a report on Thursday afternoon April 21 that food items had been tampered with.
Wijnands reported that their investigation revealed needles had been found in fruit and meat. As a result, the Food Basics store was closed as a safety precaution.
Wijnands said area residents are being urged to carefully check and inspect food items when handling and preparing them for consumption.
The Perth OPP Criminal Investigations unit is investigating the incident and is working closely with the store management and The Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They have also contacted other Listowel merchants to try to ascertain if it is an isolated case.
Anyone finding any needles or tampered food in relation to the incident should contact the Perth County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Police later stated they found no further evidence of food tampering in the store.
There were no complaints made by store customers about foreign objects in food or had discovered any tampering with products purchased at the Listowel store.
The store has reopened.
