NZ Dairy Giant Faces New Milk Scare in Sri Lanka

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, already under pressure over a global botulism scare, is facing fresh trouble over milk powder in Sri Lanka allegedly mixed with a farm chemical.

The company said Saturday it had completed a recall of two batches of milk powder under Sri Lankan government orders because of allegations it contained traces of chemical DCD.

Dicyandiamide, or DCD, is added to pastures to increase agricultural yields.

A New Zealand government website says DCD is not toxic and poses no food safety risk but adds that international regulators are likely to view DCD residues as a "contaminant".

However, Sri Lanka's health ministry said it considers DCD to be a "toxic chemical" that should not be in milk and that is why it ordered the recall, spokesman Dharma Wanninayake told Agence France Presse.

Fonterra, whose brands are the market leader in Sri Lanka, accounting for nearly two thirds of imports, has denied its products contain any trace of DCD.

"Our milk is 100 percent pure," Fonterra spokesman Roshan Kulasuriya said. "But we complied with the directive and have completed the recall of the two batches said to contain traces of DCD by today (Saturday)."

The Sri Lankan action is unrelated to the global safety recall announced by Fonterra earlier this month after tests turned up a type of bacteria that could cause botulism.

New Zealand's government said last weekend products potentially tainted with botulism-causing bacteria included infant formula, sports drinks, protein drinks and other beverages.

Fonterra has said the Sri Lankan government tests that allegedly found traces of the DCD chemical in its products were flawed and the results incorrect.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal has slapped a temporary ban on Fonterra advertising.

The ban will remain in force until August 21 when test reports from foreign laboratories are expected, a court official said.

Following the botulism scare earlier this month, Sri Lanka suspended the release of milk imported from New Zealand at a port in Colombo until an internationally recognized laboratory certifies they are toxin free.

Fonterra insists the batches at the port do not contain any harmful bacteria.

Sri Lanka imported $307 million-worth of milk and milk products in 2012 with the bulk coming from New Zealand and Australia, the central bank says.

The developments globally have been bad news for New Zealand's dairy industry which is a key driver of the nation's economy.