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New Zealand PM questions Fonterra delays Fonterra 'sorry' for contaminated product scare
(35 minutes later)
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has questioned why dairy giant Fonterra delayed raising alarm over products contaminated with bacteria that can cause botulism. The boss of New Zealand dairy firm Fonterra has apologised for the distress caused to parents because of a scare over contaminated products.
His comments came as Russia and China banned imports of affected products, which include baby milk formula. Theo Spierings was speaking in China after it emerged on Saturday that batches of whey protein contained bacteria that can cause botulism.
Fonterra said the bacteria came from a dirty pipe at a processing plant for whey protein concentrate. Contaminated products, including infant formula, were exported to a number of countries, including China.
New Zealand is the world's largest dairy exporter. Botulism is an extremely dangerous form of food poisoning.
"We regret the distress and anxiety which this issue could have caused,'' Mr Spierings told reporters in Beijing. "Parents have the right to know that infant nutrition and other products are safe.''
He added that Fonterra was committed to China and was working with regulators to address the problem.
China and Russia have moved to ban imports of the contaminated products.
Fonterra said it had received confirmation that China had not imposed a blanket ban on its products.
Delays questioned
Earlier on Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key questioned why Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, delayed raising the alarm over the contaminated products.
John Key said concerns were raised after a series of tests in May 2012.
"When you've got a company that's our largest company, our largest brand, our largest exporter that is the flagship for New Zealand and your whole business is about food safety and food quality you think they'd take such a precautionary view to these things and say if it's testing for some reason in an odd way that it would just be discarded until they were absolutely sure that its right," Mr Key said."When you've got a company that's our largest company, our largest brand, our largest exporter that is the flagship for New Zealand and your whole business is about food safety and food quality you think they'd take such a precautionary view to these things and say if it's testing for some reason in an odd way that it would just be discarded until they were absolutely sure that its right," Mr Key said.
He said concerns were raised after a series of tests in May 2012. However, Mr Spierings addressed this by saying that the first sign of a problem only came to light after tests in March this year.
Fonterra said the contaminated whey protein concentrate had been exported to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Fonterra said the bacteria came from a dirty pipe at a processing plant for whey protein concentrate.
It said the bacteria had been found in three batches of whey protein which had been used in Nutricia Karicare for infants.
Fonterra has exported the contaminated whey protein concentrate to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
So far, there have not been any illnesses reported related to the contaminated products.So far, there have not been any illnesses reported related to the contaminated products.
China relies heavily on New Zealand for its imports of milk powder. The country experienced a tainted milk scandal in 2008 that killed six babies and made about 300,000 ill.China relies heavily on New Zealand for its imports of milk powder. The country experienced a tainted milk scandal in 2008 that killed six babies and made about 300,000 ill.
According to Chinese state media, nearly 80% of dairy products imported by China come from New Zealand.According to Chinese state media, nearly 80% of dairy products imported by China come from New Zealand.
On Saturday, Fonterra announced that it had found the contamination, which led to a global recall of up to 1,000 tonnes of dairy products in seven countries. New Zealand is the world's largest dairy exporter.
It said the bacteria had been found in three batches of whey protein which had been used in Nutricia Karicare for infants.
Botulism is an extremely dangerous form of food poisoning.