‘Our products are safe’ – Fonterra attempts to reassure customers over DCD

Fonterra has attempted to reassure its global customers that New Zealand dairy products are safe - as concerns about dicyandiamide (DCD) residue in milk-based products from the country continue to spread.

Last week, New Zealand’s two biggest fertiliser companies – Ravensdown and Ballance Agri-Nutrients – suspended the sale of DCD after it emerged that low levels of the substance had been discovered in some dairy products samples.

DCD, which is applied to pasture to prevent nitrate leaching into rivers and lakes, is not considered a food safety risk. Despite that fact, a number of countries have increased their checks on Kiwi dairy shipments.

“We know some of our customers and regulators have questions,” said Fonterra CEO, Theo Spierings. “We need to answer them, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

“Let’s keep it in perspective. Our testing has found only minute traces of DCD in samples of some of our products.”

“It is important to remember that the minute traces detected were around 100 times lower than acceptable levels under European food safety limits.”

“The bottom line? Our products are safe. Customers can rest assured,” Spierings concluded.