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Sewing needle in potato shocks Wabush man

Bruce Budgell was peeling potatoes for a Jigg's Dinner when he discovered the 2-inch-long needle that led to a voluntarily recall of several varieties of potatoes across Atlantic Canada.
Bruce Budgell of Wabush found this two-inch sewing needle in a potato he was peeling last weekend. (Bruce Budgell)

Bruce Budgell was peeling potatoes for a Jigg's Dinner when he discovered the 2-inch-long sewing needle that led to a voluntarily recall of several varieties of potatoes across Atlantic Canada.

"I struck one potato and something steel rubbed my finger when I peeled it," the Wabush man told CBC.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Linkletter Farms Ltd. of Summerside, P.E.I., issued a voluntary recall of bags of Link, Market Town Co-op and Carr's blue and brown stripe potatoes, when a two-inch needle was found in this potato. (Bruce Budgell)

"And what I come to discover was the top of a needle, and I pulled it out to see what it was — and it was a sewing needle about two inches long."

Budgell purchased the potatoes at the Carol Wabush Co-op in Labrador City, and called to complain about what he found.

Eventually, police showed up at his door to investigate the complaint.

Recalled were the Link, Market Town and Carr's potatoes, which originated from Linkletter Farms in Summerside, P.E.I.

Potato was deliberately tampered with

Company president Gary Linkletter said he was informed the object was put there on purpose.

For now, he's voluntarily taken the potatoes off the market.

As for Budgell, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary showed up to his home to take the remaining potatoes at the request of the RCMP in P.E.I.

He said he's waiting to be contacted further by Co-op head operations.

While there have been no confirmed illnesses or injuries, consumers have been advised to carefully check potatoes for foreign objects, as a precaution.

Police continue to investigate how the needle got into the potato.