Additional Quality Assurance Underway at Fonterra Plants

22 Aug 2013 --- Fonterra has put in place a programme that will provide additional quality assurance for its nutritional plants.

This follows the recent precautionary recall of whey protein concentrate.

Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings said that it is important that we give our customers, consumers, regulators, farmers and our own teams the confidence that Fonterra is going above and beyond world best practice in terms of quality and food safety systems and processes.

He added that the extra measures are the right thing to do, particularly because these plants make ingredients or products consumed by infants and very young children.

“Fonterra will check, double check and triple check, if necessary.  The additional quality assurance at Hautapu and our five other nutritional plants over the coming months will encompass further checking and servicing of all equipment and processes to ensure they continue to meet the highest possible international standards.

“Every year, each of our plants undergoes thorough maintenance and review during winter, before being re-commissioned for the new season. They are also routinely cleaned, tested and maintained throughout the season. This year – in light of the precautionary recall – we are going one step further.”

The programme will begin at Fonterra’s Hautapu site next week, before being rolled out to Fonterra’s other nutritional plants.

While visiting the Hautapu site Mr Spierings said that Fonterra has to make every effort to get the basics right.

“This means taking a hard look at all aspects of our processes and the way we currently operate, and making the changes that are necessary to build a stronger Fonterra.

“The additional quality assurance at our nutritional sites is an important part of rebuilding confidence in our commitment to quality and operational excellence,” Mr Spierings said.