Chinese importers recall tainted NZ milk products

China's consumer quality watchdog announced on Sunday a list of four companies that have imported potentially contaminated products from New Zealand dairy company Fonterra.

Fonterra said Friday that some of its whey protein produced in May 2012 was found to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.

The four Chinese importers are Hangzhou Wahaha Health Food Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Wahaha Import & Export Co., Ltd., Shanghai Tangjiu (Group) Co., Ltd. and Shanghai-based Dumex Baby Food Co., Ltd., according to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

The four importers have initiated recalls of potentially contaminated products, sources said.

AQSIQ on Sunday also issued a consumer warning for three batches of Karicare-brand dairy products produced by New Zealand company Nutricia.

Nutricia has initiated preemptive recalls over concerns that some materials supplied by Fonterra for the production of Karicare-brand products may be contaminated.

Karicare is not officially imported to China, but may have entered the country through other means, AQSIQ said.