WELLINGTON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand food industry on Tuesday called for tougher penalties to punish people sabotaging food following Australia's strawberry needle crisis last year which severely damaged the industry there, and similar cases happened here in New Zealand.

"Sabotaging food is akin to economic terrorism. It poses a real risk to the public, it causes massive cost to industry and huge wastage of food," said Greg Hartfood from Retail New Zealand.

A farm supervisor who allegedly put needles in strawberries did so out of spite, according to Australia's Brisbane court.

The industry association is urging the government to follow Australia's lead and substantially increase penalties for people who tamper with food products in New Zealand.

New Zealand Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said: "Consumers want to know that their food is safe and I think we do need much strengthened penalties."

National MP Nathan Guy is calling for maximum penalties to be increased from 10 to 14 years of imprisonment, adding cases like those could cripple an entire industry.

"We want to send a very strong message it's not welcome in New Zealand," Guy told local media.

However, Food Safety Minister Damien O'Connor said earlier the current laws are fit of purpose and don't need changing.