Police in Western Australia have announced that a 43‑year‑old woman has been charged with endangering the life, health or safety of another person after she allegedly added metaldehyde snail pellets to a colleague’s curry. The victim had prepared the meal in February for staff at a Perth office and later returned to eat the leftovers at lunch.
When she tasted the dish she noticed bright green granules and felt a numbing sensation on her tongue. The suspect – reportedly in a relationship with the victim – visited a chemical storage shed before re‑serving the curry in the staffroom. After the victim handed the meal to detectives, the substance was identified as metaldehyde, a toxic chemical used in snail bait that can cause serious injury or death.
Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters that the officer in charge was grateful the victim was alert to the abnormal taste. ‘We’re just very thankful that the person who tasted the curry was aware of something that wasn’t quite right,’ he said.
The accused will face court on 5 November. The investigation has highlighted the dangers of chemical contamination in workplace food and the importance of vigilance in shared kitchen areas.
Source: BBC News – Perth Police Department, Seven Network reports
