China calls halt to New Zealand milk powder in botulism scare
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
August 5, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
China has halted imports of milk powder from New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand’s trade minister said yesterday, following the discovery of bacteria that can cause botulism.
Fonterra identified eight companies to which it had sold contaminated New Zealand-made whey protein concentrate, exported to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia and used in products including infant milk powder.
Nearly 90 percent of China’s US$1.9 billion in milk powder imports last year originated in New Zealand.
Australia was caught up in the ban after some contaminated whey protein concentrate was exported there before being sent on to China and elsewhere.
“The authorities in China, in my opinion absolutely appropriately, have stopped all imports of New Zealand milk powders from Australia and New Zealand,” New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser told Television New Zealand.
China’s importers are recalling and sealing products produced with whey protein from Fonterra.
The recall began after the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced a list of four domestic companies that have imported whey products that may be contaminated with clostridium botulinum.
Fonterra said on Friday that some of its whey protein produced in May 2012 was found to be contaminated with the toxic bacteria.
The four 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.
The Wahaha Group, which owns two of the companies in question, has initiated recalls for affected products despite finding no signs of contamination in them, said Zong Qinghou, the company’s board chairman.
The company imported about 14 tons of whey protein from Fonterra in 2012 that was used to process its dairy products, including its popular Nutri-Express drink, Zong said.
The products hit shelves in October 2012 and the company is working to recall any unsold items.
Dumex baby formula
Baby formula maker Dumex also said it is sealing imported Fonterra products and recalling two branded formula products made with the whey protein.
Shanghai Tangjiu, a Chinese agent for Fonterra products, said it had imported 4.8 tons of affected whey protein and had sold it to the Shanghai branch of Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola said 4.77 tons of the material had been sealed. The remaining whey protein was used in milk beverages.
A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the company was preparing to recall select batches of its Minute Maid Pulpy Milky product line in China, but added that because of the heat-treatment process it uses, there was no risk to consumers.
China’s quality watchdog also issued a consumer warning over three batches of Karicare-brand products produced by New Zealand company Nutricia.
Nutricia has initiated recalls over concerns that some materials supplied by Fonterra for the production of Karicare-brand of infant formula may be contaminated.
The affected products are not officially imported to China, but may have entered the country through other channels.
Nutricia said Karicare products sold through official channels in China did not use the contaminated supplies.
The bacteria behind the latest scare is often found in soil. The Fonterra case was caused by a dirty pipe at a processing plant.
Botulism, potentially fatal, affects the muscles and can cause respiratory problems. Infant botulism can attack the intestinal system.
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