Two New Zealand dairy products were slapped with an import ban after the items were suspected of being contaminated with bacteria that could cause botulism.
The Health Ministry announced import bans on Nutricia Karicare Stage 1 Infant Formula and Nutricia Karicare Stage Follow-on Formula, The New Straits Times reported.
The two products are manufactured by NZ dairy giant Fonterra Limited.
The company had recently announced that a dirty pipe at its plant in Hautapu, Waikato, could have led to the contamination of three batches of whey protein concentrate (WPC80).
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The affected WPC80 is believed to have been contaminated by bacteria which could cause botulism, the most dangerous form of food poisoning and which is potentially fatal.
Botulism can cause paralysis of the muscles and, subsequently, can lead to death.
It has been reported that three batches of contaminated WPC80 have been turned into 900 tonnes of varied food products sold by eight companies in seven countries.
The NST reported that the ban not only covered the two items but all premixed infant formula and follow-on formula manufactured by Fonterra which could contain WPC80.
The ministry said it would instruct companies to recall their dairy products if they had been manufactured using WPC80 exported by Fonterra to Malaysia.
Danone Dumex, one of the companies supplied with WPC80 from Fonterra, announced on Monday that it had begun recalling some batches of its products.
Consumers have been urged not to use dairy products made by Fonterra and Danone Dumex for the time being.
Meanwhile, Fonterra Malaysia has issued a statement declaring that none of its consumer branded products – Anlene, Anmum, Anchor/Fernleaf – were affected and all were safe for consumption. - August 7, 2013.
