Chinese state media use foreign dairy scandal to defend local brands
Press have field day reminding consumers that botulism is far more dangerous than melamine
State media have leapt at the chance to restore mainlanders' confidence in domestic makers of baby milk formula by highly publicising a food-safety scare involving New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra.
China has also ordered US pharmaceutical company Abbott, manufacturer of Similac Gain milk formula, to recall two batches of the product that were packed on a Fonterra production line that had not be sanitised after processing ingredients contaminated with botulism bacteria.
None of Abbott's products sold on the mainland contained the tainted whey protein in question, the company said in a statement on Monday night.
Fonterra announced over the weekend that 38 tonnes of its whey protein concentrate was found contaminated with the bacteria, which can affect muscles and in serious cases may cause respiratory failure. The finding also prompted Danone to recall 12 batches of Dumex baby formula on Sunday.
The food-safety scandal came amid Chinese authorities' determination to reclaim market share lost to foreign makers of baby formula, stemming from a melamine-tainted milk scandal in 2008 that killed six children and made ill more than 300,000 others.
