Mums happy formula safe for babies

Dunedin mother Brydie Archbold feeds her baby Flyn his bottle. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Dunedin mother Brydie Archbold feeds her baby Flyn his bottle. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Everyone has a ''small amount'' of fear over the threat to infant formula, but it is outweighed by trust the authorities have the situation under control, Dunedin mother Brydie Archbold says.

She attended a Dunedin Parents Centre play group for under 1-year-olds yesterday with seven-month-old son Flyn.

When news of the 1080 blackmail threat broke on Tuesday she was initially worried. However, with more information and time to reflect she had become confident about the situation.

''I trust that the authorities will keep these little guys safe,'' Ms Archbold said.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday China had set some conditions on importing formula from New Zealand but its border remained open.

''They are responding to the fact we have been open with them, engaged with them.''

Mr Key also said not going public would have been seen as a ''cover-up''.

At the Parents Centre play group, Charmaine West, of Dunedin, whose baby Ari (4 months) is fed from the bottle and the breast, said she was not worried, although the situation was unpleasant.

It was impractical logistically for anyone to tamper with the infant formula containers and any tampering would be spotted.

Megan Macaulay, of Dunedin, with 7-month-old daughter Quinn, had bought three tins of infant formula to stock up on the product because of the scare.

She did so to avoid the effect of any shortage from bulk buying, if there was a rush to secure safe product.

She checked the new tins for signs of tampering.

However, she felt the threat was likely to be a hoax to gain attention.

Miss Macaulay believed the Government should have told parents earlier about the scare, rather than waiting until this week.

Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said she was briefed by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in mid-February and supermarkets ''immediately kicked into gear''.

Foodstuffs had appointed ''milk monitors'', staff who watched infant formula and could give customers MPI advice.

Additional CCTV cameras and signs had been installed in supermarkets.

In Dunedin's Centre City New World supermarket a staff member was supervising the shelf. In Countdown Dunedin Central, infant formula had been removed from the shelves and placed behind the counter.

Formula had also been removed from shelves in The Warehouse stores but could be bought from the customer service counter.

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