Cornflour recalled in latest food scare

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Thousands of packets of Edmonds Fielder's cornflour are the latest to be recalled in a food safety scare arising from the discovery of lead-contaminated corn imported from China.

The recall is of 300g packets with "best before" dates of 30-9-05 and 1-10-05, and comes as the Government came under fire in Parliament yesterday from the Green Party over the scare.

Herald questions about the actual number of Edmonds Fielder's packets recalled and where in New Zealand they were distributed remained unanswered last night.

The Food Safety Authority said 17.5 tonnes of Edmonds cornflour was recalled - equal to about 60,000 300g packets and that it has been distributed nationally.

The recall is the latest in a series after the authority found unacceptably high lead levels in baby custard and other cornflour products this month.

The contamination was traced to part of a corn shipment that arrived from China last September.

About 105 tonnes milled at Penford NZ in Auckland a month later went to food products.

Four tonnes was used in Pam's cornflour sold in the South Island and Wellington and Gilmours Maize cornflour 5kg bags, sold in the South Island.

Twenty-two tonnes was re-exported to Australia and about 25 tonnes was exported to Fiji. The authority says it has notified the authorities in both countries.

A further 450kg was used in Robinson's baby custard Step Up Egg Custard, made by Nutricia New Zealand, and 22 tonnes was used as a minor ingredient in other foods.

The authority's domestic and imported food director, Tim Knox, said yesterday that 30 products had been tested and there would be no more recalls.

He said the 22 tonnes used as a minor ingredient in other food was considered safe as lead levels were so small they were within "acceptable limits".

Mr Knox said the public health risk was low. A 70kg person would have to consume one 400g packet of the most affected batch of cornflour weekly "for some time" before lead levels rose enough to cause a risk to their health.

In Parliament yesterday, Green MP Sue Kedgley accused the authority of lying to New Zealanders when it said there was no short or long-term effects from consuming the cornflour.

But Mr Knox said long-term exposure to lead was required before it impacted on human health.

Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said the Government realised the dangers of long-term lead exposure and the authority had moved quickly.

But Ms Kedgley cited an American study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which concluded "any lead contamination whatsoever" may cause irreversible intellectual impairment in children.

Latest recall

* Edmonds Fielder's cornflour 300g with best before dates 30-9-2005 to 1-10-2005.

* The public can call 0800 252-423 or email cac@goodmanfielder.co.nz for more information.

Product already recalled

* A baby product, 100g Robinson's Step Up Egg Custard made by Nutricia NZ.

* Pam's maize cornflour, 400g packets, sold in South Island and Wellington Pak'N Save, New World, Four Square and On The Spot stores.

* Gilmours Maize Cornflour 5kg sold in the South Island.

Questions answered

How did this happen?

Contaminated corn was imported last September from China. Three affected batches totalling 45 tonnes each were milled in October in Auckland and distributed as cornflour before Christmas.

Is the contamination dangerous?

The Food Safety Authority says the cornflour consumed is no health risk. Long-term exposure to lead is dangerous but in this case short exposures at relatively low levels are not significant. The Green Party points to research that any lead contamination whatsoever can cause irreversible intellectual impairment in children.

Who got the contaminated cornflour?

Thirty-two tonnes was used in Edmonds products (17.5 tonnes in cornflour and the rest in White Wings cornflour sold in Australia); 4 tonnes was used in Pam's and Gilmours products; 22.1 tonnes was exported to Australia; 25.1 tonnes was exported to Fiji; 22 tonnes was used as a minor ingredient in foods; 450kg was used in Robinson's egg custard.