New Zealand police probe threat to poison baby formula

New Zealand authorities said Tuesday they had received a “criminal threat” to poison baby formula and were taking it seriously, warning parents to examine packaging for signs of tampering. Police said small packages of baby formula containing poison had been sent with anonymous letters to the National Farmers Federation and dairy giant Fonterra.

Whilst there is a possibility that this threat is a hoax, we must treat the threat seriously and a priority investigation is underway.

New Zealand deputy commissioner Mike Clement

Clement said the letter-writer threatened to contaminate baby formula with a poison called 1080, which is commonly used for pest control in New Zealand. He said the threat, originally made in November, was to contaminate products unless 1080 was banned by the end of March. The poison is used to control feral pests such as cats and possums, but some critics argue it damages the environment and kills native wildlife. Baby formula is a multi-billion dollar export industry for New Zealand and the Ministry of Primary Industries said it was confident the product remained safe.

The ability for anybody to deliberately contaminate infant and other formula during manufacturing is extremely low.

Scott Gallacher, deputy director-general of the New Zealand and the Ministry of Primary Industries

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