Fonterra: DCD in milk nothing to worry about

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings has attempted to reassure global customers that New Zealand…

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings has attempted to reassure global customers that New Zealand dairy products are safe to consume, following the recent revelation that a toxic chemical - dicyandiamide (DCD) – had been discovered in milk from a dairy farm south of Auckland.

“We know some of our customers and regulators have questions,” he said. “We need to answer them, and that’s exactly what we are doing. We have strong science and we are providing assurances about the safety of our products. Let’s keep it in perspective. Our testing has found only minute traces of DCD in samples of some of our products.”

“It is important to remember that the minute traces detected were around 100 times lower than acceptable levels under European food safety limits,” he continued. “The Ministry of Primary Industries has confirmed that the minute traces pose no risk to human health. DCD has never at any point been a food safety issue – and if it had been, we would have been the first to speak out. Fonterra has one of the highest standard food supply chains in the world, and safety is part of our DNA.”

“Since November we have been closely involved in a working group with the Government, the fertiliser companies, scientists and other dairy industry representatives gathering information, scientific opinion, and undertaking tests,” concluded Spierings. “The bottom line? Our products are safe. Customers can rest assured.”