Federated Farmers has backed Fonterra’s actions in recalling product after initial tests of Fonterra’s whey concentrate showed potential contamination.
Fonterra sent the suspect batch to crown research institute AgResearch, which said it detected Clostridium botulinum.
The result was a product recall, with the spotlight on infant formula, that sent shockwaves through Fonterra’s customers around the world. But yesterday further tests arranged by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) found another form of bacteria which could products to spoil but posed no food safety risk.
«This news is a massive relief,» Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers food safety spokesman said.
«Fonterra did the right thing in being cautious when presumptive tests showed what might be a more serious contaminant. There are only a handful of places capable of confirming C. botulinum.
«Speaking as both a biotechnologist and as a farmer, no biological test can return 100 per cent specificity. When you are dealing with biological products nothing is absolute. That explains why these tests were presumptive and the recall was precautionary.»
However, he said questions still remained and the various inquiries would show the reasoning and key timing points.
«For example, should Fonterra have talked to their customers in March, when testing showed a potential issue in the finished product from Hautapu?» Rolleston said.
If there was a negative, it was that Fonterra’s competitors had now been given insight and data.
«We now have the potential loss of intellectual property,» he said.
«Industry, with the MPI, need to sit down to determine the best way of providing consumer assurance in these situations without compromising intellectual property.»
Source: Stuff
