Companies that import dairy products from New Zealand are being checked by authorities in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin in the wake of the discovery of traces of a toxic chemical.

 

Quality watchdogs and Shanghai Customs said any problem products found would be sealed. Last week, two makers of agricultural chemicals in New Zealand said they halted sales of dicyandiamide (DCD) after low levels were found in dairy products. 

 

In China, many people have turned to New Zealand products following scandals in the domestic dairy industry. 

 

However, the discovery of the toxic chemical, used on pasture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen leaching, has raised concerns.

 

In Shanghai, baby formula from Abbott sold in the city was identified as using raw material from New Zealand. But Abbott said the company did not use powder from New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group, which is involved in the scandal. 

 

Two other popular brands of baby milk powder, MeadJohnson and Wyeth, do not specify the origin of their raw material. Their milk powder products were simply marked "100 percent imported dairy source."

 

"I don't know which country's milk source was used, which makes me worried," said a Shanghai mother Yu Ge. She has been feeding her 13-month-old daughter with Wyeth's baby formula. 

 

No one at Wyeth was available for comment yesterday. MeadJohnson said it imported raw material from several countries including the United States, Australia and New Zealand, but its products were safe and met both international and national standards.

 

Shanghai's market watchdog said it was paying close attention to the incident, but had not ordered local supermarkets and stores to take New Zealand dairy products or products that contains raw dairy material off the shelves.

 

Fonterra Co-operative Group China said it had no plan to suspend sales of its products. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said they are asking New Zealand authorities to provide detailed information on the incident.

 

About 80 percent of China's imported milk comes from New Zealand, according to Xinhua news agency. Experts say there is no need for panic - the chemical has only very slight toxicity. 

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