Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 06 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12308. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.KATRINA SHANKS (National)to theMinister for Food Safety: What information can she provide to the public regarding the safety of infant formula?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Minister for Food Safety):Ministers have been advised thatNutricia has voluntarily recalled a number of its products to ensure that potentially affected stock is off the shelves until there can be complete confidence as to whether or not these products are contaminated. Last nightNutricia initiated a voluntary recall ofKaricare Stage 1 New Baby Infant Formula from birth andKaricare Gold+ Stage 2 Follow-on Formula from 6 months. The Government welcomesNutricia’s decision. Now that there is a definitive recall across the two product lines the Ministry for Primary Industries is assistingNutricia to ramp up public information. This includes national advertising of a statutory recall notice: radio advertising social networking advertising and online advertising. People can get information and advice fromHealthlinePlunketLine and the Ministry for Primary Industries consumer helpline. The Ministry for Primary Industries is continuing to work round the clock on this issue. Parents and caregivers should continue to regularly check the Ministry for Primary Industries website for any updates and callHealthline andPlunketLine if they have any health concerns.Katrina Shanks: What are the main actions the Government has taken to address the immediate issues raised with regard to the safety of infant formula?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Some of the actions that we have been taking include placing officials from the Ministry for Primary Industries at Fonterra sites in Auckland Hamilton and Australia to verify information and to obtain a complete picture of the products and locations affected by the contamination. Ministry officials have conducted a physical check of the plant in the Waikato to confirm the pipe suspected of causing the contamination has been changed. A ministerial response team has been established for a whole-of-Government approach on this issue and we have been meeting regularly. Ministers have spoken with food and grocery industry representative members and have been assured that they have no immediate concerns about the ability to supply existing alternative infant formula. Ministers have also been advised that the industry is putting in place arrangements to secure the ongoing supply of alternative infant formula products. From a public health perspective health officials have been an active part of the response team. The Director-General of Health has been working closely with the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries. There has been increased surveillance for any symptoms that could possibly result from exposure of this bacteria. The surveillance has been in district health board baby units paediatric wards and general practices. I am also advised that the Ministry of Health has utilised its system of conveying urgent messages to general practices. This has been a whole-of-Government response. Ministers and agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the public are protected.