Food authorities meet importers of tainted milk

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd promotes its milk powder products at a dairy expo in Beijing. The New Zealand dairy giant said its products are safe after media reported that trace chemical residues were detected in its products. [Photo/China Daily]

China's food and drug authorities on Sunday met with representatives of three companies that have imported potentially contaminated products from New Zealand dairy company Fonterra.

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) asked the companies to stop sales of such products and recall all products produced using potentially tainted materials.

Fonterra said Friday that some of its whey protein produced in May 2012 has been found to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.

The three importers are Hangzhou Wahaha Health Food Co., Ltd., Coca-Cola (China) and Shanghai-based Dumex Baby Food Co., Ltd., according to the administration.

The SFDA urged the importers to investigate the cause of the incident and take action as soon as possible.

The CFDA on Saturday issued an emergency notice ordering local food and drug administrations in Shanghai and Zhejiang to cooperate with the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to investigate the incident.

The CFDA said it will pay close attention to the development of the incident and release further information to the public in a timely fashion.