Fonterra says products shipped to Phl safe

MANILA, Philippines - Fonterra Philippines, the local arm of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra assures that said its dairy product exported to the Philippines have not been contaminated by a bacteria that could cause an illness called botulism.

“The Philippines has not been affected (by the contamination),” said Fonterra Philippines nutrition manager Angela Pablo in a phone interview yesterday.

The New Zealand government warned over the weekend that some Fonterra products exported to Australia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam contained contaminated whey protein.

China has already banned all imports of milk products from New Zealand.

It has been reported that the whey protein concentrate used in products was produced in 2012 with a dirty pipe in one of the company’s processing plants.

Wire reports stated that the tainted products ranges from infact formula to protein drinks.

Botulism is a form of food poisoning that may cause paralysis.

In the Philippines, Fonterra distributes powder milk brands Anlene, Anmum, and Anchor.

The Philippines imports most of its dairy requirements from New Zealand and is Fonterra’s third largest market in Asia next to China and Indonesia.

National Dairy Authority administrator Grace Cenas said they have so far not been alerted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“So far, we have not received an official advisory from the FDA.