Daily newspapers in China have held nothing back in dealing to New Zealand over Fonterra's tainted milk powder crisis.

As Fonterra's boss said sorry to NZ over the formula scare, it emerged four batches of potentially contaminated formula reached Hong Kong and Australia.

More than 80,000 cans of suspect infant formula have been recalled in Hong Kong and a hotline set up by the city's authorities has been fielding hundreds of calls.

Fonterra head Theo Spierings - just back from China - delivers an apology to NZ over the formula scare, but dodges questions about his own performance.

Fonterra's infant formula scare appeared to have little impact on dairy prices.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings reckons Fonterra's reputation will be fully restored in the Chinese market.

Fonterra's chief apologised to consumers and the New Zealand public at a press conference today, saying all contaminated stock had been contained.

International dairy prices made a "modest" fall at the first global dairy auction to be held in the aftermath of the Fonterra infant formula scare.

"Their inability to tell us with confidence that our two babies will not fall ill from any of its products ... is unforgivable."

"If there's a dent to that reputation that dent has the potential to hurt everybody ... " Tourism Industry Association chief Martin Snedden's blunt message.

The baby milk botulism scare comes to light after changes at the top of Fonterra - including moves by the company to take more direct control of its communications strategy.

As days pass, emerging details raise more questions about the infant formula scare. Here's just a few of them.

China will not tolerate another slip-up from Fonterra, with the dairy giant caught up in its third contamination scare there since 2008, says a marketing expert.

There is widespread anger within the dairy industry over the length of time it was kept secret from the market while officials worked on a gameplan, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Sri Lanka is the latest country to suspend New Zealand milk powder imports because of botulism fears from contaminated Fonterra products.

"I think all the brands have safety issues," said a Chinese father yesterday, one of many left in a panic, unsure of what's safe to give their kids to drink.

We need to diversify. We need a concerted government-level drive to build up our other export earners, writes Paul Brislen.

Sri Lanka is the latest country to order an immediate suspension of New Zealand milk powder imports over botulism fears from contaminated Fonterra products.

Prime Minister John Key says he is prepared to fly to China if he needs to in the wake of the Fonterra whey contamination scandal.

"There will be a reckoning, but now is not the time." Federated Farmers breaks its silence on the infant formula contamination scare.

Leaky homes, free market devotion and a 'festering sore' of a tourism campaign - New Zealand is coming under fire in the state-sanctioned Chinese media.

Some worried and confused parents are taking their babies to doctors, fearing the worst in the infant formula contamination scare.

In the short-term at least, Fonterra's brand and reputation are in tatters, writes Liam Dann. How much of the damage is superficial and how much is lasting will depend on how this plays out.