3:45p.m. 8th April 2008

| By Toby Walker

Police believe whoever is responsible for deliberately contaminating supermarket meat with pieces of metal does not intend to harm shoppers, only to alarm them.

A joint investigation involving Queensland, NSW and Western Australia police was extended to South Australia today with news a fifth "distinctive" piece of metal no longer than six centimetres had been reported to police.

The object was discovered when being prepared for cooking on Sunday after it had been purchased from Woolworths at the beginning of March in the town of Gawler.

Noosa’s Woolworths reported finding a similar piece of metal in a meat product on February 17.

In a Brisbane press conference today, police appealed to consumers to be on the lookout for suspicious metal objects.

But they were reluctant to provide a more detailed description of the offending piece of metal or more about the nature of their investigations for fear the information would be used by copycats.

Police believe the metal was large enough to ensure consumers would notice it before accidentally eat it.

Detective Superintendent Gayle Hogan said animal liberation groups were being looked at as part of a broad investigation but admitted the case was unique in that no threats or demands had so far been made.

The three companies targeted between January 5 and March 18 were Coles, Woolworths and Bi-Lo.

Tampered pre-packed meat and frozen products have been found, in order, at Kalgoorlie, Noosa, Gawler, Alderley and Tweed Heads.

Det Supt Hogan said four different manufacturers had supplied the five meat products at the heart of the investigation but that it did not appear the contaminations had occurred at the point of manufacture.

Anyone with information which could assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.