Fonterra and New Zealand applauded for transparency
Press commend company for warning customers of whey powder safety fears - and say it's a lesson for domestic producers
The surprising twist that a batch of whey powder exported to China by dairy giant Fonterra's did not contain botulism-causing bacteria after all might have incurred losses for the company in the short term, but its handling of the incident has earned it and the New Zealand government great admiration on the mainland.
Only weeks ago headlines in mainland media screamed how the Fonterra safety scare demonstrated that foreign dairy products did not necessarily guarantee safety and quality. But now they applaud the company for being responsible and voluntarily warning customers of the possible safety threat.
Mainland media also point to the case as an object lesson for domestic dairy producers on how to protect their reputation, and market share as a result, by putting ethics above all.
New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries said on Wednesday tests showed that whey protein concentrate manufactured by Fonterra contained Clostridium sporogenes, which cannot cause botulism, but which at elevated levels can be associated with food spoilage.
Original tests conducted by Fonterra and a New Zealand government research institute had indicated the presence of C. botulinum, raising fears that infant formula and sports drinks made from the product was potentially dangerous.
"Let's put aside the details of why the company could not tell the difference between the two bacteria, but Fonterra's extreme caution about quality - like the old Chinese saying that every bush and tree looks like an enemy - is worth learning from. It's commendable that the company voluntarily reported to the government and started the precautionary recall," the Chutian Metropolis Daily said in a commentary.
An editorial in the Nanfang Daily said Fonterra's economic losses would be overshadowed by new profits after rebuilding its goodwill. "It is admirable that Fonterra and the New Zealand government were transparent and issued a warning… The market will surely provide an answer on whether such moves boost consumers' confidence or not," the newspaper wrote.