New Zealand ministry confirms Fonterra whey never posed human risk

The Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand reaffirmed on Thursday that the whey protein concentrate produced by its dairy giant Fonterra and imported to Abbott Laboratories' China branch never posed a risk to humans, read a Monday statement on the website of China's quality watchdog.

The New Zealand ministry's acting director-general Scott Gallacher said tests conducted by testing organizations in the US and New Zealand found no Clostridium botulinum in whey protein concentrate offered to Abbott, according to the statement on China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, adding that the products do not pose any health risk to consumers.

The reconfirmation came after two batches of Abbott-brand products were recalled in China on August 12 for being packaged in production lines that were not fully sanitized after producing tainted products.

The statement also said the New Zealand ministry had previously stated on August 14 that Abbott infant formula is safe. Fonterra, one of Abbott's suppliers, warned earlier that its whey products may contain toxic Clostridium botulinum.

The involved companies recalled all products that could be contaminated but tests proved that all of them were safe.

The New Zealand ministry said on August 28 that the bacteria found in whey protein manufactured by Fonterra was confirmed to be Clostridium sporogenes, which is harmless to humans, instead of Clostridium botulinum.

"Fonterra did not release enough details about the test, which is too vague for many to believe in what it said," Gu Jiasheng, vice-director of the committee of experts of the Shanghai Dairy Association, told the Global Times, adding that Fonterra still has a long way to go before fully regaining the trust of Chinese consumers.