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The chair of Māori-owned milk processing company Miraka, Kingi Smiler, says all exporters need to play their part in upholding New Zealand’s reputation in the wake of the Fonterra botulism scare.
Fonterra has appointed a committee headed by one of its independent directors, Sir Ralph Norris, to find out how a batch of whey concentrate used in infant formula was contaminated with the bacteria and then remained in its supply chain for more than a year before being recalled.
Queens Counsel Jack Hodder has been asked to review how the company handled the discovery.
Mr Smiler says the scare has affected all producers.
"The effect that it has on the New Zealand brand and certainly we along with the rest of New Zealand really need to help out and make sure we keep building our reputation for food safety as well as a strong New Zealand brand so we all do well," he says.
Miraka is set to complete its new ultra high temperature plant in Mokai by February, which will be used to produce UHT milk for the Shanghai market in a joint venture with Shanghai Pengxin.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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