WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, came under fire from the New Zealand government, farmers and financial regulators for its handling of a food contamination scare that has triggered product recalls and spooked parents from China to Saudi Arabia.
The government sent officials to Fonterra premises to ensure a clearer message and to regain international confidence after New Zealand's biggest company was criticised for dragging its feet in saying it sold whey protein products that contained a bacteria that could cause botulism - a potentially fatal food poisoning.