NSW police are offering $100,000 for information leading to the prosecution of those behind cases of food contamination.

There have been more than 20 such reported incidents in the state recently.

Sophie Church, 8, found a sewing pin after cutting into a strawberry on Sunday night.

Her mother, Lisa, said the $100,000 reward announced on Wednesday could be positive.

“I mean, it will be hard to catch the person responsible,” she said.

“It’s a terrible thing they’ve done.

“If they can get the person responsible, that would be good.”

Acting assistant commissioner Stuart Smith said police “believe it’s the work of copycats and pranksters”.

“We’ve got to deal with it though the way we deal with any crime,” he said.

“It’s (of) a very serious nature.

“The investigation is being led by the robbery and serious crime squad.”

Mrs Church said she would continue to buy strawberries despite the scare her daughter received.

She has provided a statement to local police.

“I had to explain to my daughter that people are deliberately doing this, putting pins in,” she said.

“It’s definitely concerning.

“I will continue to buy them, they’re one of our favourite fruits.

“I’ll just keep cutting them up for the time being.”

The Oasis brand strawberries had been bought from Coles at Lavington last Thursday. 

Mrs Church believes the fruit will be fine to eat after being cut up. 

A Victorian police spokeswoman said there hadn’t been any reports of similar incidents in the North East.

Acting assistant commissioner Smith said the offence of contaminating a food source carried a “severe penalty” of up to 10 years in jail. 

Other types of fruit have also been targeted with more than 100 reports nationwide. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said changes to the law would see people jailed for up to 15 years. 

One child in NSW has admitted to putting a needle into a strawberry as part of a prank. 

He will be dealt with by way of caution. 

It remains unclear what the motivation for the offending is.