News
New Zealand dairy giant issues global botulism alert
View(s):WELLINGTON, Aug 03, (AFP) – New Zealand warned international health authorities today of exported dairy products, including infant formula, containing a bacteria that could lead to botulism — a potentially fatal illness. The government said the contaminated whey protein concentrate, or products using this ingredient, had been exported to Australia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Dairy giant Fonterra, which manufactured the product more than a year ago, said eight customers had been advised and were investigating whether any of the affected product was in their supply chains. If necessary, contaminated consumer products would be recalled, the company said in a statement.
China today said it had contacted New Zealand’s embassy and asked them “to take measures to prevent the products in question from influencing the health of Chinese consumers”.
There have been no reports of any illness linked to consumption of the affected whey protein. New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said health authorities around the world, including the World Health Organization, had also been alerted to the contamination.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus