Our dairy products 100% safe - Fonterra
Fonterra Brands Lanka, probably responding to safety issues raised in the media about powdered milk produced in New Zealand consequent to a lead story in The Nation on March 17, 2013 titled ‘Milk powder brands keep mum on ingredients’ has stated in a release sent through a Public Relations Company that its dairy products are 100% safe.
This release follows a similar assurance given by the Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand in Delhi (published in full on this page).
Despite the confidence level (100%) of safety, the New Zealand Government has moved to stop routine testing of powdered milk produced in that country, according to the Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), mandated to conduct such tests. We reproduce in full the release sent on behalf of Fonterra, as well as our response and comments from the AEA.
Despite the confidence level (100%) of safety, the New Zealand Government has moved to stop routine testing of powdered milk produced in that country, according to the Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), mandated to conduct such tests. We reproduce in full the release sent on behalf of Fonterra, as well as our response and comments from the AEA.
Managing Director of Fonterra Brands Lanka Leon Clement said today all New Zealand dairy products are 100 percent safe and at the same time welcomed the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to re-test their samples of imported milk powder.
“While DCD has never been a food safety issue, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about milk powder products in Sri Lanka.
“The Government has indicated that the tests they carried out on imported milk powder in April were inconclusive.
“While DCD has never been a food safety issue, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about milk powder products in Sri Lanka.
“The Government has indicated that the tests they carried out on imported milk powder in April were inconclusive.
“Independent and internationally accredited testing laboratories – the Cawthron Institute and AsureQuality – have carried out hundreds of tests on New Zealand milk powder, produced since September 2012 and all of these tests have found that New Zealand dairy products are 100 per cent safe.
“The very low levels of DCD detected in a small number of milk powder samples in New Zealand last year were 100 times lower than tolerable daily intake guideline limits established by the European Commission.
“At these levels, United Nations data suggests that the table salt sitting in your kitchen is more of a risk to humans than DCD.
“Regulators around the world have agreed New Zealand dairy products are 100 percent safe.”
“At these levels, United Nations data suggests that the table salt sitting in your kitchen is more of a risk to humans than DCD.
“Regulators around the world have agreed New Zealand dairy products are 100 percent safe.”
DCD is no longer being used on New Zealand dairy farms.
“While there was never a food safety risk, the New Zealand Government and industry have taken steps to ensure DCD is no longer used on dairy farms in New Zealand.”
Mr. Clement concluded that Fonterra has one of the highest standard food supply chains in the world.
“Safety is part of our DNA. The bottom line? Our products are safe.”
“While there was never a food safety risk, the New Zealand Government and industry have taken steps to ensure DCD is no longer used on dairy farms in New Zealand.”
Mr. Clement concluded that Fonterra has one of the highest standard food supply chains in the world.
“Safety is part of our DNA. The bottom line? Our products are safe.”
NZ Govt. says...
The New Zealand Government can assure all consumers that New Zealand dairy products are safe. The New Zealand Government’s senior official for food safety, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Director General, Wayne McNee, has previously acknowledged that low levels of DCD have been detected in a small number of New Zealand milk powder products.
McNee is clear, however, there is no food safety risk. In New Zealand no dairy products are being withdrawn from sale, because they are all safe for consumers.
There is no need for consumers in Sri Lanka to be concerned about the safety and quality of New Zealand dairy products.
There is no need for consumers in Sri Lanka to be concerned about the safety and quality of New Zealand dairy products.
Extensive research has shown no food safety risk at the levels of DCD detected. It is of very low toxicity, and even with extremely high doses it has been difficult to identify any adverse effects.
DCD itself is not poisonous. It is a non-harmful, water soluble compound that has been used in fertilizers on pastures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the leaching of nitrogen into waterways.
Despite DCD being safe, New Zealand has stopped using DCD while New Zealand considers whether to seek an international standard and what other steps should be taken concerning the use of DCD.
DCD itself is not poisonous. It is a non-harmful, water soluble compound that has been used in fertilizers on pastures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the leaching of nitrogen into waterways.
Despite DCD being safe, New Zealand has stopped using DCD while New Zealand considers whether to seek an international standard and what other steps should be taken concerning the use of DCD.
Really?
The press release titled ‘FONTERRA DAIRY PRODUCTS 100% SAFE’ released on 16 May 2013, raises serious doubts about bona fides of the company.
To start with, the argument they put forward to affirm the safety of Fonterra milk products further corroborates allegations against the company. The release says, “At these levels, United Nations data suggests that the table salt sitting in your kitchen is more of a risk to humans than DCD”, implying that DCD is a risk to human health, at some level (emphasis ours).
To start with, the argument they put forward to affirm the safety of Fonterra milk products further corroborates allegations against the company. The release says, “At these levels, United Nations data suggests that the table salt sitting in your kitchen is more of a risk to humans than DCD”, implying that DCD is a risk to human health, at some level (emphasis ours).
Fonterra, in the release, also admits the presence of DCD in their milk powder products; “The very low levels of DCD detected in a small number of milk powder samples in New Zealand last year were 100 times lower than tolerable daily intake guideline limits established by the European Commission.” This comes against a backdrop where Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has categorically stated that milk powder containing DCD should be removed from the Sri Lankan market, regardless of the DCD percentage. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), moreover, has stated that there was a DCD presence in the samples sent for tests, qualifying that assertion with the acknowledgment that samples sent were from batches shipped to Sri Lanka last year, i.e. before the DCD controversy exploded in Fonterra’s corporate face. Samples from recent batches are to be sent for testing, the CAA states.
The company then says that regulators around the world have agreed New Zealand dairy products are 100 per cent safe. In the same breath, Fonterra says DCD is no longer being used on New Zealand dairy farms! If Fonterra dairy products are safe and suitable for human consumption, why is DCD no longer being used? Although the company speaks of ‘regulators around the world’, it has failed to disclose who the regulators are. That brings the credibility of the remark into question. Moreover, since Fonterra admits that DCD was used (and later removed), doesn’t this mean that Fonterra was unaware of the ills of DCD until it was pointed out? What does this say of the ‘stringent measures’ that Fonterra has in place to ‘ensure 100% safety’? Will Fonterra wait until the next whistle-blowing or the surfacing of scientific evidence to take out another contaminating substance and then issue media releases of the ‘100% safe’ kind? At that point, will Fonterra, being a ‘socially responsible corporate’ say, ‘we lied when we said “100% safe” but we are now 100% safe’?
“While there was never a food safety risk, the New Zealand Government and industry have taken steps to ensure DCD is no longer used on dairy farms in New Zealand,” the release states. This further substantiates the dubious behavior of Fonterra with regard to DCD. If there was never a food safety risk, there was no reason for the New Zealand government to take steps to ensure DCD is no longer used!
On the other hand, there is a serious question about the authenticity of the release issued by Fonterra. Although the Fonterra letter head is used in the release, there is no official from the company who validates it on behalf of the company. The contact person mentioned at the bottom of the release is an employee from the Public Relations Company who sent us the release for Fonterra. In addition to that, there is no official from Fonterra who takes the responsibility for the release and to engage with the media! Is this negligence, incompetence or is the company simply avoiding myriad questions posed by the media?
On the other hand, there is a serious question about the authenticity of the release issued by Fonterra. Although the Fonterra letter head is used in the release, there is no official from the company who validates it on behalf of the company. The contact person mentioned at the bottom of the release is an employee from the Public Relations Company who sent us the release for Fonterra. In addition to that, there is no official from Fonterra who takes the responsibility for the release and to engage with the media! Is this negligence, incompetence or is the company simply avoiding myriad questions posed by the media?
This ‘right of reply’ sent by Fonterra or its public relations company can only be considered as a nice PR spin as the company has miserably failed to address the ground situation. It is high time for Fonterra to do away with PR spins and address the core issue which jeopardizes the health and safety of the public.
Editor-in-Chief
NZ fears tests - Why?
Despite repeated assurances that New Zealand dairy products were safe for consumption, the country’s government has mounted immense pressure upon Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) to block ongoing tests on milk powder samples.
The AEA had commenced tests on milk powder samples over alleged radioactive contamination.
The AEA had commenced tests on milk powder samples over alleged radioactive contamination.
Chairman of the Authority Dr Ranjith Wijayawardena confirmed that results were negative, but raised questions on the recent visit by New Zealand officials.
“I fail to understand why the authority was visited by individuals from the New Zealand Primary Industry Ministry who insisted that we halt inquiry into radioactive contamination of milk powder imported from their country,” said Dr Ranjith Wijayawardena. “We have been doing this test since the 80s and although we are yet to find anything suspicious, we will not halt any inquiry.”
“I fail to understand why the authority was visited by individuals from the New Zealand Primary Industry Ministry who insisted that we halt inquiry into radioactive contamination of milk powder imported from their country,” said Dr Ranjith Wijayawardena. “We have been doing this test since the 80s and although we are yet to find anything suspicious, we will not halt any inquiry.”
Dr Wijayawardena stated that the officials reasoned citing that the tests could hurt the integrity of the exporters and the companies involved. “I reassured them that these negative results would be an impetus, but they gave and showed scientific evidence that their lands were free of artificial radiation.”
“The reasons for their visit could have been commercially motivated as it is understandable that if a consignment of goods were to be tested, it would also have to be kept at the harbor until results were out which is costly,” he said. “However, the AEA will not bow to such foreign pressure and will carry out its duties as it is the mandate of the authority.”
According to him, the AEA uses the Gamma Ray Spectrometry, a scientific method to measure the radioactive levels in food items. Based on local regulations, the maximum radioactivity level allowed is 20 Bq/kg for milk food and 100 Bq/kg for other food items. This was laid down in a 1969 Act of Parliament and in a Gazette notification issued later in 1995. (Bq is the measurement of radiation in food items).
Rukshana Rizwie
Category: Local, Sri lanka news
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