Fonterra Absolved in Dairy Botulism Scare

NEW ZEALANDDairy exporter Fonterra has received welcome news. New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on Wednesday said bacteria found in Fonterra's whey protein concentrate is not the kind that has the potential to cause the sometimes fatal disease botulism.

Tests confirmed the organism is Clostridium sporogenes rather than Clostridium botulinum, MPI said. The bacteria found in the products is not associated with any food-safety issues, although certain strains may be linked to food spoiling, according to the government agency.

Early this month, Fonterra informed regulatory authorities and customers that three batches of whey protein concentrate was tainted with Clostridium botulinum. The whey protein concentrate is used in a number of products including beverages, infant formula and food supplements.

It appears Fonterra was mistaken. MPI analyzed 195 tests that were conducted in New Zealand and the United States. All the tests were negative for Clostridium botulinum, MPI acting director-general Scott Gallacher said.

Fonterra on Wednesday maintained its precautionary recall was proper given that the original results from a research facility in New Zealand indicated the presence of the botulism-causing bacteria.

Although Fonterra expressed its relief that the results came back negative for Clostridium botulinum, Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said "this in no way lessons our commitment to undertaking a thorough review into what happened, and to learn from this experience."