Group to look at better tracing of #dairy products

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A group is being set up to look into how to better trace dairy products and ingredients in the aftermath of last year’s Fonterra botulism scare.
The dairy giant issued a worldwide recall of products in August after testing revealed some batches of its whey protein, which is used to make infant formula, were potentially contaminated with a botulism-causing bacteria.
Further testing showed the bacteria wasn’t present and there was never a health risk, but not before New Zealand dairy products were blocked in China and other countries, and the country’s food safety image took a huge hit.
An independent government inquiry into the false alarm put forward 29 recommendations, including setting up a working group to consider the most appropriate regulatory provisions for traceability of dairy products.
«Improving the traceability of dairy products will further protect the public in the event of a suspected food safety issue,» Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said.
She said the inquiry had found the regulatory model in place was among the best in the world, but the changes would strengthen it further.
«It is crucial for government and industry to work together on this issue. In order to have full traceability, both government and industry systems must be robust and aligned,» Ms Kaye said.
The group, set up by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Ms Kaye, will be headed by former top diplomat John Larkindale.
 
Members will be appointed from:
– Food and Grocery Council
– New Zealand Retailers Association
– GS1 New Zealand
– Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) representative large-scale manufacturers
– DCANZ representative of small-scale producers of retail-ready dairy products
– Infant Nutrition Council
– New Zealand Infant Formula Exporters’ Association
– One member each from Ministry of Primary Industries and AsureQuality.
The group, which will report to MPI director-general Martyn Dunne, will have its first meeting in March.
 
Source: 3News

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Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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