A charity organization in New Zealand has inadvertently distributed contaminated pineapple candy that contained a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine. The Auckland City Mission food bank issued an apology on Wednesday and is currently working with local police to trace the 400 individuals who may have consumed the hazardous candy. These candies were donated by an unknown individual, and the police have emphasized that there is no indication that the charity acted improperly.
Three people, including a child, a teenager, and a staff member from the charity, sought medical assistance after tasting the candy, but none are currently hospitalized, stated Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin from the Auckland Police during a press briefing. According to the New Zealand Drug Foundation, the candy contained methamphetamine at a concentration 300 times higher than normal, making it potentially deadly.
Ben Birks Ang, a spokesperson for the foundation, noted that it is common for traffickers to conceal drugs within everyday items and warned that there could be more of these dangerous candies in circulation. The estimated value of the candies is around 1,000 New Zealand dollars (approximately 600 USD) each, suggesting that the donation was likely a mistake rather than a malicious act.
Authorities suspect a harmful cross-border smuggling tactic is at play, and a criminal investigation is ongoing. So far, only 16 of the candies have been recovered, while an unknown quantity may still be in circulation. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement,” stated the Auckland City Mission in a press release.
A representative from the mission indicated that eight families, including at least one child, have reported consuming the contaminated candies since Tuesday. The “acrid and disgusting” taste caused most to spit them out immediately, but it was warned that “even a very small amount or a taste of the substance could have serious consequences for an individual.”
Typically, the charity only accepts sealed packages of commercially produced foods, but the pineapple candies were delivered in a retail bag labeled as Malaysian brand Rinda. Rinda has stated in a written statement to the AP news agency that their product “may have been tampered with” and they will cooperate with authorities.