China, Vietnam and Russia have imposed an import ban on milk powder and whey protein from the New Zealand-based Fonterra after the dairy co-operative warned that a batch of whey powder produced in 2012 may be contaminated with bacteria that can lead to botulism.
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.
Consumption of the food contaminated by such bacteria can lead to nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
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.
Fonterra's chief executive Theo Spierings told a press conference in Beijing that the co-operative regrets the distress and anxiety which this issue could have caused.
"Parents have the right to know that infant nutrition and other products are safe."
Fonterra is committed to China and is working with regulators to address the problem, Spierings added.
