Toxic bacteria found in baby formula sold in China

Infection also affects five other Asian countries.

New Zealand-based Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, maker of a third of the world’s milk and New Zealand’s largest company, said a toxic bacteria that causes botulism had been found in tests of ingredients the company sells for use in infant formula and sports drinks.

New Zealand government officials are urging a recall but Fonterra said companies in the countries affected by the botulism-tainted milk would handle the recalls. These countries are Australia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Fonterra makes and sells its milk products to other companies that make infant formula

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Even tiny amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning.

CEO Theo Spierings said the company’s focus is to get information out about potentially affected products as fast as possible so it can be taken off supermarket shelves and eturned.

Infant formula from New Zealand is in huge demand in China, because of concerns about the quality of domestic formula there, particularly since milk formula tainted with melamine led to the deaths of several babies and sickened thousands more in 2008.

The Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which polices food safety, ordered importers in China to recall any products that might carry the bacteria.

Fonterra officials said the problem involved three batches of a whey protein concentrate produced at a New Zealand manufacturing site in May 2012.