Police arrest man for suspected food contamination
Police in London have arrested a man on suspicion of contaminating food at three supermarkets.
Metropolitan Police detained the suspect in Hammersmith and Fulham after foodstuffs at the stores were injected with an as yet unidentified substance via the use of needles.
Officers were called after a man was reported to be shouting abuse at people in the street. He is alleged to have visited three supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road.
The stores are a Little Waitrose at 201-207 Fulham Palace Road; Sainsbury’s Local, 179-183 on this road; and Tesco Express, 168-188 on Fulham Palace Road. The supermarkets were closed and crime scenes put in place.
Affected food items are believed to be processed meats and microwaveable products. It is unknown how many items have been contaminated, or what with. Investigations are ongoing to establish if other businesses are involved in the incident. There have been no reports of people getting sick.
Hammersmith and Fulham council’s environmental health team has been informed and are working with the supermarket branches affected.
Police advised people who had bought any food items from these supermarkets on Wednesday evening, Aug. 25, to dispose of them as a precaution.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
