Speaking at a news conference in Auckland on Wednesday, Theo Spierings said that all supplies of potentially contaminated infant formula had been removed from the international market. He said there was almost no more risk for consumers.
“I apologize for the discomfort and anxiety and distress this has caused,” he said.
The chief executive of the world’s largest dairy exporter returned from the key market of China this week where he’d been conducting damage control.
He said 18 metric tons of potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate had been turned into 2,300 tons of infant formula that had now been successfully contained in warehouses or recalled.
Fonterra announced Saturday that hundreds of tons of infant formula, sports drinks and other products sold in seven countries could be tainted after tests found bacteria in whey protein concentrate that can cause botulism. Recalls were limited to the infant formula after beverage makers explained their manufacturing processes would have killed any bacteria.
Spierings said the contamination occurred as the result of dirty pipes at a Fonterra factory in New Zealand’s Waikato farming district in May 2012. He said samples turned up a potential bacteria problem this March, but that it took until July 31 for testing to indicate the presence of the strain of bacteria that could cause botulism.
The scare has damaged New Zealand’s reputation as a supplier of safe, high quality food.
Consumers in China and elsewhere have been willing to pay a premium for New Zealand infant formula because of high safety standards and the popular image of the country as an unspoiled environment. Chinese consumers have a special interest after tainted local formula killed six in 2008.
