New Zealand’s dairy industry has been hit by a safety scare after a toxic chemical was found in milk produced in the country.
Low levels of dicyandiamide (DCD) were discovered in milk from a dairy farm south of Auckland. Cattle farmers use DCD to prevent nitrate, a fertiliser byproduct which can also be damaging to humans, from entering the food chain and causing pollution.
There are no international standards on safe levels of DCD in food.
New Zealand’s $924 million dairy industry is a key international milk supplier and accounts for nearly a third of the country’s exports.
Government officials have expressed concern over the impact of the discovery on the country’s food exports: "New Zealand's reputation is based on the high quality of food we produce," said Carol Barnao, New Zealand primary industries ministry deputy director of general standards.
