EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ronald Avers of Belleville, Ill., faces a federal trial on charges of inserting sewing needles in packaged supermarket meats,The Associated Pressreported. Avers has pleaded not guilty.


Authorities allege the 68-year-old man inserted needles into packaged meat products at a Shop 'n Save from May through July 2013. No serious injuries were reported, however one customer bit into a needle and another customer got stuck in the hand by a needle in a steak.

The needles were found in various retail meat products, from beef roasts, steaks and ground beef.