Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Some North Island dairy farmers were sold calf feed potentially contaminated with a strain of clostridium botulinum which can cause botulism.
Fonterra says its subsidiary NZAgbiz has sold "a very small amount of calf milk replacer containing the affected whey protein concentrate (WPC80)".
The co-op also confirmed NZAgbiz as one of the eight customers, including infant formula manufacturers that had received affected WPC80. NZAgbiz has announced a product recall of a small amount of calf milk replacer sold in the North Island.
NZAgbiz general manager Justine Pearce says after a comprehensive inventory assessment it found that the majority of affected product still in stock. Only a small amount has been sold to customers in the North Island, she says.
"As a result we are acting immediately to recall this product. We have alerted the Ministry for Primary Industries and, where possible, are contacting customers directly.
"We have also sought and received expert advice which has confirmed that the risk to animal health from consuming the feed is low.
"We place absolute importance on the safety of our customers' animals and as such, we are recalling all affected product," Pearce says.
The products recalled are;
Ancalf calf milk replacer with batch numbers:
• JX24 X6494 to JX24 X6509
• JX26 X6542 to JX26 X6573
Brown Bag calf milk replacer with batch numbers:
• IX21-B0974
• IX21-B0975
• IX21-B0979
• IX21-B0983
NZAgbiz does not produce any products for human consumption.
Fonterra veterinarian, Lindsay Burton says although the health risk posed by the affected calf milk replacer is very small, NZAgbiz is right not to compromise on safety standards, and to advise customers who may have the affected product to return it to the place of purchase.
Fonterra is continuing to work with the eight customers who have the affected WPC80 to assist them in getting all relevant information into the public domain as quickly as possible.
Since Fonterra's announcement of potential quality issue on Saturday, some countries are reviewing their trade with New Zealand dairy companies.
Russia has announced a complete ban on all New Zealand dairy products. In New Zealand, Nutricia is recalling several batches of infant formula that could contain the affected WPC80. Chinese authorities are also asking consumers to refrain from buying NZ made infant formula.
Fonterra initially identified a potential quality issue in March this year, when a product tested positive for Clostridium. There are hundreds of different strains of Clostridium, the majority of which are harmless.
Product samples were put through intensive testing over the following months. On July 31, tests indicated the potential presence of a strain of Clostridium (clostridium botulinum) in a sample, which can cause botulism in humans.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…