Twenty venomous spiders found in imported grapes

Identification of the spiders had found only seven were poisonous - three black widows (pictured) and four yellow sac spiders. Photo / Thinkstock

A total of 20 venomous spiders have been discovered in imported Mexican grapes but there have been no reports of anyone being bitten so far.

Last week, the Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed it had discovered 10 poisonous spiders in bunches of imported grapes in both the North and South Islands, prompting officials to pull all Mexican grapes from supermarket shelves across New Zealand.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for MPI said a total of seven black widows and 13 yellow sac spiders had been discovered.

However, she said MPI had not received any reports of people being bitten.

Since last week, further consignments of Mexican grapes had arrived in New Zealand, the spokeswoman said.

She said the grapes had been treated with an MPI approved treatment to kill any "potential hitchhiking spiders", and some of this produce may now be reappearing in stores.