Westland in NZ handed Chinese export ban

Milk products from New Zealand’s Westland Milk Products have been found to be contaminated after being dispatched for export to China. However, New Zealand officials say that none of the products had reached consumers, according to Chinese news websites. The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced that it had revoked export certificates for four consignments of lactoferrin made by Westland, after they were found to have excessive levels of nitrate.

The consignments came from two affected batches of lactoferrin, a naturally occurring milk protein, made by a factory in Hokitika, New Zealand, according to a MPI statement. One batch was exported directly to China by Westland as an ingredient for other dairy products and the second was supplied to the North Island-based Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company, and also exported to China. Both companies had told the MPI that a small amount of the lactoferrin was used in consumer products, but none of the products had reached consumers.

Westland’s two batches of lactoferrin, totalling 390 kg, showed nitrate levels of 610 and 2, 198 parts per million respectively. The New Zealand maximum limit for nitrates is 150 parts per million. Privately owned Westland makes about 120,000 tons of dairy product each year, exporting the majority.

Earlier this month, China banned some Fonterra products after the company revealed that 38 tons of whey protein used by other manufacturers, including makers of infant formula, was contaminated with a bacteria that can cause botulism.