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Source: Reuters -
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Melamine has been detected in an iron supplement added to Fonterra milk powder products.
The contaminated supplement comes from a company in Germany and is added to 12 fortified milk powder products.
Fonterra says it has stopped using the ferric pyrophosphate and is sourcing a replacement.
Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says there is no risk to the public and tests show no melamine above the regulatory safe levels made its way into the food chain. She says by the time it makes its way into the final product it is so diluted that it falls below detectable levels.
Wilkinson says Fonterra advised the New Zealand Food Safety Authority on February 11 that it was investigating the mineral supplement.
The authority directed Fonterra to hold all affected product - approximately 30,000 tonnes of milk powder - in New Zealand that contained the ingredient, while an investigation was carried out.
Two tests on the raw ferric pyrophosphate found unacceptable levels of melamine. Fonterra then arranged for independent tests for the final milk powder product which showed no trace of melamine.
"All the necessary precautions were taken and the authority implemented the risk management strategy put in place last year to address melamine concerns quickly and effectively," Wilkinson says.
The relevant European authorities were advised and issued a notification. Initial reports from the European Commission suggest the melamine contamination was accidental and occurred at a manufacturing plant in Spain.
Fonterra spokesman Gary Romano says "there is absolutely no health risks to consumers".
