More needles found in lunch meat

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Sat, March 21, 2009

GUELPH, Ont. -- Food safety inspectors probing tampering of luncheon meat at a Guelph, Ont., supermarket have added two more items to the list of affected products. 

Sewing needles were discovered in two more packages of Schneiders luncheon meat that were pulled from the shelves of a No Frills store this week. 

That brings to 13 the number of sewing needles of various sizes found in 12 packages of luncheon meats and wieners sold by Maple Leaf Foods under its Schneiders brand. 

The two latest items added to the list by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are the Smart Lunch Fajita Combo and Schneiders Lunch Mate Chicken Dunkers. 

Both were discovered containing needles Thursday during a close examination of Schneiders products at the grocery store. 

Inspection agency spokesman Garfield Balsom says they had been pulled from the shelf when the needles were found. 

The investigation started Tuesday, when a customer returned a Schneiders product to the store after discovering a needle. 

The CFIA, Guelph police and Loblaw Companies Ltd., owner of the No Frills store chain, investigated and initially found seven packages containing needles.