The New Zealand government will conduct a top level inquiry into how Fonterra’s whey product, which was potentially contaminated with botulism causing bacteria, was distributed globally.
Prime Minister John Key said that Fonterra's CEO Theo Spierings was informed that an inquiry of the highest integrity would be conducted over the food safety issue.
"There will be inquiries that will have to be held. We want to understand why it went wrong," Key added.
In a press conference in Auckland, Spierings said that Fonterra would be holding its own internal inquiry into the issue.
Recently, Fonterra warned that a batch of whey powder produced in 2012 may be contaminated with bacteria that can lead to botulism. The contaminated batch was exported to plants in China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia.
Fonterra noted that the contamination was caused due to a dirty pipe at a processing plant for whey protein concentrate. The co-operative said that it did not receive reports of any ill health linked to consumption of the affected products.
In response to the warning, China, Vietnam and Russia have imposed an import ban on milk powder and whey protein from the Fonterra. In addition, Formula producer Nutricia voluntarily recalled two lines of baby food in New Zealand.
Botulism, a dangerous form of food poisoning, is caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which attacks the nervous system and can affect people of any age group.
