China names importers of NZ dairy products

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd promotes its milk powder products at a dairy expo in Beijing. The New Zealand dairy giant said its products are safe after media reported that trace chemical residues were detected in its products. [Photo/China Daily]

China's top quality watchdog has named on its website four importers, including Wahaha and Dumex, of potentially tainted products from New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, in a further move to cope with the food safety crisis.

China's largest beverage producer Hangzhou Wahaha's Health Food Co and Import & Export Co, infants and children's nutrition company Dumex, and Shanghai Tangjiu Group were found to have allegedly imported problematic dairy products from Fonterra, according to the website of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

All those four companies have initiated recalling measures, said the website. Fonterra said Friday that some whey protein produced in May 2012 was found with clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.

The company had sold contaminated New Zealand-made whey protein concentrate to eight customers in Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia for use in a range of products, including infant milk powder.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, followed by paralysis, and it can be fatal if not treated.