Tampered P.E.I. potato investigation expands to Cavendish Farms
RCMP announced Wednesday they were called out to the Cavendish Farms plant in New Annan October 3 when metal objects, now being identified as sewing needles, were found in french fries that were on a production run. RCMP say there was no public safety issue.
- More tampered P.E.I. potatoes found in N.S. and Newfoundland
- Suspected potato tampering prompts recall in Atlantic Canada
- Sewing needle in potato shocks Wabush man
Mary Keith, Vice President of Communications with Cavendish Farms, says they are cooperating with the RCMP and there was no need for a recall because no product actually left the facility.
"Our systems discovered foreign metal material and as a result we have quarantined and are destroying all of the production from that day and all of the related raw potatoes have been quarantined and are under lock up by the RCMP as they may be required for evidence."
In a release RCMP said it appears the metal sewing needles were intentionally placed in the potatoes prior to the potatoes being sent to the production facility and that the affected potatoes appear to have originated from Linkletter Farms Inc. in PEI.
This comes as a sixth report of a needle being found in a table potato was also announced by RCMP Wednesday. The most recent report came to Fredericton police Tuesday. That potato came from a bag purchased from a Co-op store in Fredericton on Oct. 6.
RCMP now say six tampered table potatoes have been found across Atlantic Canada.
RCMP say it's believed all the potatoes involved originated from Linkletter Farms Ltd. of Summerside, P.E.I.,
No one has been injured as a result of the incidents and RCMP are continuing their investigation.
The bags of table potatoes may have been sold throughout Atlantic Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a voluntary recall list for those on Oct. 7.