15 Jan 2014

Food safety system 'robust'

9:55 am on 15 January 2014

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says the country's food safety system is robust and has worked well for many years.

Fonterra announced on Monday it was recalling 8700 bottles of fresh cream that tested positive for the potentially dangerous E.coli bacteria.

The dairy company says most of the bottles have been sold and most likely already consumed. Three people have complained to the company of being ill after eating the cream.

MPI deputy director-general Andrew Coleman told Radio New Zealand's Summer Report programme that about 50 food products each year are involved in food recalls and the number has been consistent over 10 years.

"Food recall numbers have always remained the same. Food issues have always remained the same. It's just the nature of the business of manufacturing and producing food into a supply change. There will always be issues - there always has been."

Mr Coleman said New Zealand has a very good reputation worldwide for dealing with food issues.

Tests rule out health risk on ice cream

Meanwhile, the ministry said it had done further testing on products made by a South Island ice cream company and none of them contain E.coli.

The company, Deep South, started a voluntary recall on Friday after an environmental test showed E.coli in one of its factories.

MPI said test results received on Tuesday satisfied it that the ice-cream does not pose a risk to public health, so the recall is no longer necessary.