Independent dairy exporter says it faces huge losses after Fonterra scare
Exporter to China projects 30% drop in retail sales.
An independent dairy exporter is projecting huge losses after the Fonterra contamination crisis, despite his product being uncontaminated by the botulism-causing bacteria.
Chris Claridge, the managing director of Carrickmore Nutrition which exports infant milk formula and milk powder to China, said he was facing a 30% drop in retail sales over the next few months.
He said he had a million dollars’ worth of product sitting in the port at Shanghai.
“They [Chinese consumers] were concerned as to whether or not their babies were consuming contaminated product.
“So what I’m seeing now is direct impact on our capacity to sell in China.”
Carrickmore Nutrition’s product was not contaminated, but Mr Claridge said his company and other exporters were forced to retest every batch made since May 2012 to prove to customers that their products were safe.
Mr Claridge told TV3’s The Nation that testing for Clostridium botulinum was a simple test.
“To test for Clostridium is a $25 test, $25.
“It then takes two days to get a result back.
“You then pay a further $100 for Clostridium botulinum and that takes 15 days to get a result back.
“You then can test whether or not that Clostridium botulinum had toxicity, and that’s a 24-hour test.”
NBR staff
Sun, 11 Aug 2013
Sun, 11 Aug 2013
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Independent dairy exporter says it faces huge losses after Fonterra scare
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