NZ issues new assurances over contaminated dairy produce

The New Zealand government Thursday assured customers of dairy giant Fonterra that it was doing all it could to contain the risks of contaminated whey products that were dispatched to markets at home and abroad.

"The safety of consumers, especially children, both in New Zealand and in our trading partners remains our number one priority," Trade Minister Tim Groser said in a joint statement with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

The New Zealand government was taking "a very precautionary approach" to the crisis over the contamination with a bacterium that can cause the potentially fatal disease, botulism.

"We have made all efforts to inform the regulatory authorities in known affected countries, and have provided full information to help those authorities trace and recall product and advise consumers," said Groser.

"We are working round the clock with Fonterra and other companies affected. New Zealand has ceased issuing export certification for any potential at-risk products," he said.

"New Zealand is also providing updated information to all other unaffected markets to maintain the transparent and frank approach adopted since the start of this situation."

In the meantime, Guy said only a very limited range of dairy products exported from New Zealand was at risk of contamination.

"Most exports of New Zealand dairy products are unaffected, including our major exports of whole milk powder and skim milk powder, butter and cheese, and which account for the large majority of Fonterra's dairy product exports," said Guy.

Products known to be potentially affected were confined to three batches of 38 metric tons of whey protein concentrate manufactured at one Fonterra plant in New Zealand.

These were subsequently used as an ingredient to manufacture about 870 metric tons of infant formula, juice and dairy beverages, yogurt, body building powder as well as animal stock food.

The contamination occurred in May last year, and testing in March this year indicated a problem. This was confirmed on July 31 and Fonterra informed the authorities in New Zealand on Aug. 2.