Manufacturers of infant milk powder, sports drinks and animal stock feed are among those counting the costs of a whey protein contamination announcement by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra.
Fonterra has advised eight of its customers located in Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, that three batches of a particular type of whey protein concentrate (WPC80) produced at one of its New Zealand manufacturing sites in May 2012 contained a strain of Clostridium that could cause botulism.
Three food companies, two beverage companies and three companies that manufacture animal stock feed, have received the affected product, either as a base product or as a finished product manufactured by Fonterra using the affected WPC80 as an ingredient.
Australian animal feed maker Maxum was reportedly among the companies that had identified and contained any of the suspect product before it hit the feedlots.
Though Australia's exposure to contaminated whey protein looks to be restricted to animal feed, Fonterra said that Chinese authorities had temporarily suspended importation of whey powder and dairy base powder produced by Fonterra, or produced in Australia using Fonterra’s whey protein powder as an ingredient.
China has also increased inspection and supervision at the border for New Zealand dairy products, and indicated extra testing may be required.
Danone, meanwhile, has recalled two of its Nutricia Karicare infant milk formula products in the New Zealand market.
WPC80 is used by Fonterra’s customers in a range of products including infant formula, growing up milk powder and sports drinks, but dairy products such as fresh milk, yoghurt, cheese, spreads and UHT milk products are not affected.
Drinks and other products made by Coca-Cola, Vitaco and Chinese drinks maker Wahaha have also been declared safe to consume, despite being made from the contaminated whey product. Body-building supplement made from the contaminated product also poses little risk to human health because it's been heat treated.
According to Fonterra, there have been no reports of any illness linked to consumption of the affected whey protein.
Fonterra says it is continuing to communicate with and provide support directly to these eight customers, which, if need be, would initiate consumer product recalls in conjunction with local regulators.
The company said it identified a potential quality issue in March this year, when a product tested positive for Clostridium. There are hundreds of different strains of Clostridium, the majority of which are harmless.
Product samples were put through intensive testing over the following months. On Wednesday 31 July 2013, tests indicated the potential presence of a strain of Clostridium (Clostridium Botulinum) in a sample, which can cause botulism.
“We are acting quickly. Our focus is to get information out about potentially affected product as fast as possible so that it can be taken off supermarket shelves and, where it has already been purchased, can be returned,” said Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings.
