1 Dec 2014

Final botulism scare report delivered

7:36 am on 1 December 2014

The Primary Industries and Food Safety ministers have received the final report from the Government's inquiry into the Fonterra dairy contamination incident, which triggered a botulism false alarm last year, but it will be several weeks before the findings are made public.

no caption

Karicare infant formula made by Danone was pulled off shelves during the scare. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Ministers will consider the report and its recommendations and will then release it, along with the Government's response.

The Government launched its own inquiry after Fonterra recalled dairy products containing potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate.

Subsequent tests ruled out botulism, but Fonterra had to rebuild its reputation after the episode and it is still facing a multimillion dollar compensation claim from French food giant Danone.

The final report from the Government inquiry looks at how the suspect whey protein concentrate entered the New Zealand and international market and how this was handled.

An earlier report covered food safety issues arising from the incident, with the Government accepting all 29 recommendations.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs