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- Release Date: 05/08/13 10:30
- Summary: GENERAL: FSF: FONTERRA ADVISES OF QUALITY ISSUE
- Price Sensitive: No
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FSF
05/08/2013 08:30
GENERAL
REL: 0830 HRS Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)
GENERAL: FSF: FONTERRA ADVISES OF QUALITY ISSUE
On Friday 2nd August 2013 Fonterra advised regulatory authorities and
customers of a quality issue involving three batches of Fonterra whey protein
concentrate (WPC80) produced at the Hautapu manufacturing site in New
Zealand. The affected product contains a strain of Clostridium, which has the
potential to cause botulism.
There have been no confirmed reports of any illness linked to consumption of
the affected whey protein.
Food safety is Fonterra's number one priority. The Co-operative takes matters
of public health extremely seriously and is doing everything it can to assist
its eight impacted customers to take appropriate actions in the consumer
marketplace.
Fonterra is working closely with New Zealand's regulatory authority - the
Ministry for Primary Industries - as well as other regulatory authorities in
other countries in order to ensure New Zealand and offshore regulators are
informed.
It is only products which use Fonterra's WPC80 as an ingredient which are
affected.
Other dairy products which do not contain WPC80 are not affected by the
issue. The products which are not affected include: Whole Milk Powder, Skim
Milk Powder, fresh milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter and other spreads and UHT
milk.
None of the products which Fonterra will continue to sell on its GDT
(GlobalDairyTrade) auction platform are affected by this issue.
No Fonterra-branded consumer products are affected by the issue and Fonterra
has assured consumers in global markets including Australia, Asia, China,
Latin America, New Zealand and the Middle East that none of Fonterra's range
of branded consumer products contains the affected WPC80.
Fonterra has also announced that its animal feed subsidiary, NZAgBiz, which
is one of the eight customers that received affected whey protein concentrate
(WPC80), has completed a thorough inventory of its animal feed products and,
as a result, has announced an immediate product recall of a small amount of
calf milk replacer sold in the North Island.
In addition, the eight impacted customers have now commenced notifications
regarding the status of any products containing WPC80.
In cases where products are known to have been released recalls are already
underway.
There has been speculation about actions on the part of Chinese authorities.
As far as Fonterra is aware, the New Zealand Government is working with
Chinese authorities to determine the scope of the reaction, and no official
notification has been received.
Further updates will be released to the market as information becomes
available
End CA:00239270 For:FSF Type:GENERAL Time:2013-08-05 08:30:08
