CERTAIN passionfruit have been removed from supermarket shelves in Swan Hill and Mildura after fruit fly larvae was discovered in a batch in South Australia.
Biosecurity officers from Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) requested Woolworths to withdraw passionfruit from the affected grower, and the chain has removed all passionfruit from its stores supplied by the SA distribution centre.
PIRSA said the detection did not constitute an outbreak of fruit fly.
PIRSA deputy chief executive Mehdi Doroudi said the larvae were discovered in passionfruit purchased from a metropolitan Adelaide Woolworths supermarket, outside of South Australia’s Pest Free Area.
“Quick action from a member of the public alerted us to the infested fruit, and Woolworths is being very co-operative in assisting with the withdrawal,” Dr Doroud said.
“Only a few pieces of fruit were infested, and the fruit had a best before date of October 14 so has likely all been consumed by now.”
Woolworths Swan Hill assistant store manager Sharon Lakey said the store had a withdrawal of pre-packaged passionfruit on Tuesday, after they were notified of “quality issues”.
“That’s all we were told, it’s a precautionary method,” Ms Lakey said.
Consumers who have bought passionfruit from Woolworths in October have been urged to check the fruit for signs of larvae.
If you find anything suspicious, place it in a sealed bag or container and contact the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
