Questions and answers about whey protein contamination 3:30pm, MONDAY 5 AUGUST What has happened?Fonterra has informed MPI that three batches of whey protein concentrate manufactured at one of its plants in May 2012 have tested positive for the food poisoning bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Fonterra says the contamination occurred when a product was re-processed using a disused production line which had not been cleaned appropriately. Where did this affected whey protein product go?The whey protein concentrate, or products made using it, was exported to Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. It was used as an ingredient in more than 870 tonnes of infant formula, juice/dairy beverage, yoghurt, body building powder and also in stock food. MPI is advising immediately when we know of any affected product. What can Clostridium botulinum do?If eaten, this micro-organism can cause severe illness in children and adults, and can cause infant botulism in babies. It is not yet clear which strain of Clostridium botulinum is involved, but work is currently underway to clarify this. How high are the levels of botulinum?It is too early to confirm the level of contamination and the specific strain we are dealing with. What is MPI doing about the botulinum contamination?We are currently focussed on locating and verifying any products on the New Zealand market potentially containing the contaminated whey protein, and where appropriate, providing cautionary advice to consumers.
We are working with regulatory authorities in overseas markets to keep them informed about the situation.
We are also talking to consumers about what happened, why, and what can be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again. So is there any food product in New Zealand stores that’s definitely affected?The Director General’s Statement of 4 August 2013 advises that MPI cannot rule out the following Nutricia Karicare products as being potentially contaminated and recommends they are not fed to children until further notice.
Nutricia Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 for babies from birth
Nutricia Karicare Stage 2 Follow-on formula for children from six months old
MPI now recommends parents and caregivers use alternative products until further notice.
At this time we are not aware of any yoghurt, body building powder or juice/dairy beverages on the New Zealand market being affected by any recalls. So can we still buy or use Karicare products we have at home? You can use any Karicare products other than:
Nutricia Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 for babies from birth
Nutricia Karicare Stage 2 Follow-on formula for children from six months old
What are parents meant to feed their babies today?Until this process is completed, MPI advises parents and caregivers to look for alternative products to those named above. But Nutricia has only recalled products with certain batch numbers?MPI advises that it cannot rule out either Nutricia Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 for babies from birth or Nutricia Karicare Stage 2 Follow-on formula for children from six months old, as potentially contaminated, regardless of batch numbers. Why the difference between Nutricia’s advice and MPI’s?MPI has not been able to fully trace through Nutricia’s supply chain which specific batches of its products may contain contaminated whey protein, and which don’t, and whether affected batches are in New Zealand stores.
It may be over the coming days, the company can provide this information which would allow MPI to be assured of the safety of these products. But at this point, it cannot. What if I have purchased infant formula or follow-on formula that is the same as these products you name, but are not from the batch numbers Nutricia is recalling?We recommend you do not use any of the products named above. Are infant formula brands other than Nutricia Karicare OK?At this time we are not aware of any other affected product on the market in New Zealand. Is there some specific advice for parents who need to change their child’s formula brand or formulation?If it is necessary to change products, parents should give an infant smaller feeds to start with to allow the infant to adjust to the new formula.
Parents are advised to change to a formula for the same age range as they were using with Karicare. A critical message is that those parents or caregivers with a child on infant formula should not swap to a follow-on formula if their baby is under six months old.
On Saturday 3 August, MPI told consumers that the Infant Formula Stage 1 product was OK to use. Now you have changed that? Why?The advice has been changed based on new information. This issue is developing quickly and we are keeping people updated as often and as accurately as we can. Keep an eye on this website. Have any New Zealand kids got sick from consuming formula?We are not aware of any incidence of illness connected to this situation, but this is being investigated and we are monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with health authorities. Is it just Fonterra products affected or all our dairy product brands?Only products containing Fonterra’s concentrated whey protein are affected. So is it safe to eat New Zealand dairy products – for example milk and cheese?Yes, dairy products such as fresh milk, cheese, spreads and UHT milk products are not affected. How do we know other whey protein powder from the contaminated plant is not contaminated?Fonterra have informed us the contaminated whey protein concentrate was manufactured on a disused line that wasn’t cleaned properly. Product manufactured in other parts of the plant has been tested and is clear. MPI is verifying the information provided by Fonterra. Further InformationFor health concerns contact:
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Plunketline: 0800 933 922
For queries about other aspects of this food safety issue, call MPI's consumer helpline: 0800 693 721作者: 王路 时间: 2013-8-5 17:04:45
本帖最后由 王路 于 2013-8-6 07:30 编辑
UPDATE - Karicare formula - further precautionary advice 8.50pm, 4 AUGUST 2013
The Ministry for Primary Industries has further expanded its precautionary advice about Nutricia infant formula products.
Acting Director-General Scott Gallacher says the Ministry now recommends parents and caregivers avoid feeding two products from the Karicare range to their infants until freedom from contamination with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum can be confirmed.
"As of this evening, MPI has not been able to fully trace through Nutricia's supply chain which specific batches of its products may contain contaminated whey protein, and which don't, and whether affected batches are in New Zealand stores.
"It may be over the coming days, the company can provide this information which would allow me to be assured of the safety of these products.
"But in the meantime, I have decided to expand my precautionary advice and have issued another formal Director-General Statement under the Animal Products Act 1999 and the Food Act 1981," Mr Gallacher says.
In this statement, MPI now advises that it cannot rule out the following Nutricia Karicare products as potentially contaminated and recommends they are not fed to children until further notice.
Nutricia Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 for babies from birth
Nutricia Karicare Stage 2 Follow-on formula for children from six months old
MPI now recommends parents and caregivers use alternative products until further notice.
Please note, this evening's Director-General Statement supersedes earlier advice from MPI at 12.30pm today. Advice may change again, once further information is available.
"Until we get more certainty around those Karicare products outlined above, I am asking parents not to use them and use an alternative product in the meantime," Mr Gallacher said.
"MPI is working closely with industry and the Ministry of Health to ensure there are sufficient alternative infant formula products on the market, and we will be closely monitoring supply until this matter is resolved." Further information on the wider issue Currently, there is no information to suggest any other infant formula products on the market in New Zealand are affected.
MPI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are working with regulatory authorities in the relevant international markets to provide them with new information in relation to this development as soon as possible. Media contact: MPI media phone 029 894 0328.
More information will be published on the MPI website www.mpi.govt.nz as soon as it becomes available.
Consumer support
If you have any health concerns, please call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or Plunketline on 0800 933 922 for advice.
If you have questions about a product, please call MPI's consumer helpline on 0800 693 721.
Follow MPI on Twitter @MPI_NZ
Note: The Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Primary Industries support and encourage parents to breastfeed their infants until a year of age, and supplement their diet with appropriate solids from around 6 months of age. Infants under the age of one year who are not breastfed should be fed with an appropriate infant formula, and should not be fed with regular cow's milk.
KARICARE INFANT FORMULA STAGE 1 (0-6 months) and
KARICARE GOLD+ FOLLOW ON FORMULA STAGE 2 (6-12 months)
** LIMITED BATCHES IN NEW ZEALAND ONLY **
A Message from Nutricia Managing Director, Corine Tap
FONTERRA INGREDIENT CONTAMINATION PROMPTS RECALL
On the evening of Friday 2nd August, Fonterra informed Nutricia that one of their ingredients had a potential quality issue. Nutricia received a further update from Fonterra at 8.15pm (NZ time) on Saturday 3rd August. This new information indicated that some of the ingredients supplied to Nutricia may also have been contaminated.
For this reason, Nutricia has instigated a precautionary recall in New Zealand.
The safety of our consumers is our primary concern. Nutricia’s quality and food safety management system includes rigorous testing procedures of our finished products. None of the products tested and sold in New Zealand indicate any contamination. However, given the new information supplied by Fonterra, we have taken the decision to make a precautionary recall on specific products.
The products being recalled are:
- Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 (0–6 months) in NEW ZEALAND ONLY with batch numbers 3169 and 3170 (use by 17 06 2016 and 18 06 2016). The batch number and use by date can be found on the base of the tin.
- Karicare Gold+ Follow On Formula Stage 2 (6–12 months) in NEW ZEALAND ONLY with batch number D3183 (use by 31 12 2014). The batch number and use by date can be found on the base of the tin.
Consumers should not feed products with these batch numbers to infants.
If you have been using these products to feed your infant and your child shows any sign of illness, please contact your health care professional as a precautionary measure.
This recall ONLY affects batch numbers 3169 and 3170 of Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 (0–6 months), sold in New Zealand, and batch number D3183 of Karicare Gold+ Follow On Formula Stage 2 (6–12 months), sold in New Zealand.
The recall DOES NOT include other Karicare products.
This recall DOES NOT affect any Nutricia products sold in Australia.
If you have recently purchased any products with the batch numbers detailed above, please return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Further information can be obtained from the Customer Careline on: 0800 258 268.
Nutricia apologises for any inconvenience or stress caused by this, but the safety of our consumers is our paramount concern.
We are doing everything we can to resolve this issue and provide as much information and support as possible.作者: 王路 时间: 2013-8-5 21:06:36