‘Potentially lethal' dose of meth found in candy donated to charity, police say
The Rinda brand pineapple candies found to contain methamphetamine are pictured in a provided image. (Credit: New Zealand Police)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Authorities in New Zealand are warning the public after someone donated candy containing "a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine" to a charity.
Police on Tuesday in the city of Auckland said they received a report from the local charity Auckland City Mission "regarding food items donated to them, which have been found to contain methamphetamine."
The Rinda Pineapple Flavour lollies were found to contain methamphetamine and had been donated "by an unknown member of the public" to the organization for distribution, according to a press release.
"They were in a sealed retail sized package that was then distributed," the Auckland City Mission said in its own post on Wednesday. "We are deeply concerned at this turn of events and the police are actively investigating."
The mission added that it only accepts commercially-manufactured food, and that the candy "appeared as such when donated."
The Rinda brand pineapple candies found to contain methamphetamine are pictured in a provided image. (Credit: New Zealand Police)
Charity officials said someone who received one of the candies reported "funny tasting" lollies, and the candy was tested by New Zealand’s Drug Foundation as a precautionary measure.
Testing confirmed that the candy contained "potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine," the charity said.
"If you have received any of these lollies, please DO NOT eat them," the organization added.
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For its part, the New Zealand police confirmed its investigation and said the Rinda brand pineapple lollies "may have been distributed to food parcel recipients over the last several weeks."
"An investigation is under way and Police are treating the matter as a priority given the risk to the public," the police said in a separate statement on Tuesday.
"Police are urging anyone who has received the Rinda brand pineapple lollies in a food parcel to not consume the lollies and to secure them out of reach of anyone in the household," the statement added.