Consumer backlash shows 100% pure the way forward for NZ economy

Fonterra's lack of transparency and the finding of dicyandiamide (DCD) residues in milk last September has caused a huge consumer backlash in international and financial markets.

Consumers around the world want clean, green, 100% pure,GE-free and organic products. New Zealand needs to embrace this and meet the demand, rather than continuing with environmentally damaging farming and unwanted residues in food, according to Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson for the Soil & Health Association - Organic NZ.

"There is an opportunity here for Fonterra to set a benchmark on the international stage and show other NZ producers how we can become a leading world economy whose strategic advantage is the purity of our food. Organics is the key to our future.. Consumers are clearly stating by their response to milk contamination that they want clean, safe milk," says Swanwick.

New Zealand's biggest dairy importer, Taiwan, raised serious concerns over the DCD issue (2) and dairy sales in all markets nosedived. A NZ exporter, Biopure Health, selling NZ made infant milk formula in China, reported sales fell to zero after Fonterra made the announcement. (1)

Statements in the Chinese press such as 'NZ milk is poisonous' and a Wall Street Hournal article questioning the safety of NZ's milk further exacerbated the PR nightmare for Fonterra.(1). The Chinese market is already sensitive to milk contamination following the 2008 melamine scandal. (1)

"Fonterra is now also being judged by the financial markets with subsequent losses hitting NZ shareholders - the largest group being NZ dairy farmers,: says Swanwick.

Fonterra's shares have fallen from $7.30 on the day of the public announcement of the DCD issue to $6.95 this week. Questions are now being asked as to why government officials were not made privy to the issue at the time of its discovery or why prospective shareholders were not informed prior to Fonterra's launch on the NZX. (3)

In 2010 Fonterra announced that it would expand its organic milk supply but, in a surprise move in 2011, made the decision to reduce its separate collection of organic milk. This resulted in the loss of premium price for affected organic producers and the mixing of their milk in with the main supply. (2)

"We urge Fonterra to rethink that decision and live up to New Zealand's clean, green, 100% pure reputation by encouraging organic dairy farming" says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer's right to have fresh, healthy, organic food free of GE, pesticides and additives. and their right to know what is in their food. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata.

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