Contaminated whey protein from New Zealand

Fonterra,  the world’s fourth largest producer of dairy products, have issued a recall on their whey ptotein, due to suspected contamination with botulism. The affected products included their Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC80), the most popular form of whey protein on the nutrition market. The source of the contamination was a dirty pipe in their New Zealand based facility. Approximately one thousand tons of product was included in the recall, across seven countries: Australia, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam (and any countries who may be purchasing sports nutrition products made in those countries, obviously).

New Zealand normally is a great source of healthy dairy products (this incident notwithstanding); because of their notoriously strict import laws and non-GMO guidelines, plus general isolation from the rest of the world, they have a pristine ecosystem with 80% of the flora and fauna being native to the island, and only 20% having been brought in from elsewhere (an astounding ratio in 2013). Their neighbors across the Tasman are looking to capitalize on the scare, and at least one, MGC, has done so already. China and Russia have both put a temporary halt on Fonterra shipments, and the sports nutrition market is currently waiting to see if any additional problems arise outside of the seven countries who have received the contaminated whey protein.

For the record, 3Fu3l does not use Fonterra, nor do we use whey protein concentrate.

Read more:

http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2013/08/05/fonterra-announces-botulism-%E2%80%98quality-issue%E2%80%99-with-whey-protein-karicare-recalled-in-nz.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/9097910/Contaminated-whey-protein-traced

http://www.ibtimes.com/botulism-poisoning-new-zealands-fonterra-says-whey-protein-exported-6-countries-including-china

http://www.3news.co.nz/Fonterra-in-damage-control-over-whey-contamination/tabid/421/articleID/307535/Default.aspx