A WOMAN has been arrested over a strawberry needle contamination scare that forced supermarkets across Australia to pull fruit from shelves and farmers to dump it by the truckload.

The 50-year-old woman was taken into Queensland Police custody on Sunday after leading a months-long investigation involving authorities and intelligence agencies from multiple states.

She is expected to be charged and front Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday in the wake of a crisis that spread to all six states.

Queensland Health officials issued a safety warning on September 12 after the discovery of needles hidden inside a punnet of strawberries.

It was followed by needles being found in packets of strawberries in other states and in other fruit, as well as copycat incidents and a statewide campaign by the Queensland government to encourage consumers to back farmers by buying their produce.

The state government has previously revealed more than half the $1 million it put forward in response to the saga will be spent on an advertising campaign, with $250,000 allocated for safeguarding supply chain integrity.

Funds will also be given to the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association and Growcom to distribute to affected farmers.

The federal government also stumped up $1 million for the industry and rushed through laws to see those responsible face up to 15 years behind bars.