Negative results from independent botulism tests and a higher revised forecast milk pay-out from Westland dairies means New Zealand farmers can breathe easier this week.

The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed that the bacteria present in the WPC80 whey protein batches was contaminated with Clostridium sporogenes and not Clostridium botulinum.

The bacteria, therefore, posed no direct health risks to consumers of affected products, largely sports drinks, infant growth formula, infant milk replacer and calf milk replacer.

Food safety implications of the sporogenes organism extend to food spoilage, if in high enough concentrations.

Although a false alarm, Fonterra has been praised for firstly blowing the whistle on itself and showing diligent commitment to testing and tracking products from the Hautapu plant.

Biotechnologist and farmer, Dr William Rolleston said: “No biological test can return 100 per cent specific…nothing is absolute. That explains why these tests were presumptive and the recall was precautionary.”

Westland Milk Products added to the good news with its forecast payout, lifting prices over a dollar to $7.60-$8 per kilo of milk solids (kgMS) before retentions.

Continued high world milk values and a strong start to the season have been given as reasons for the lift, including an advance rate increase to $5 per kg/MS.

Farmers have welcomed the increase but have queried why Westland has been unable to match Fonterra’s advanced rate of $5.50.

Westland Chief Executive, Rod Quin asserted that recent whey protein and lactofferin product issues have not greatly affected the dairy market, which have continued to increase.

Westland’s announcement comes as a boost for farmers in the middle of calving, according to Federated Farmers West Coast Dairy Chairperson Richard Reynolds.

He said that the price lift offers the ‘perfect’ opportunity to promote their new Westpro Nutrition brand, recently launched in China. He was also glad to be coming to the end of a very testing month.

“It has been one hell of an August,” said Mr Reynolds. “I saw someone at Federated Farmers head office tag it as dairying’s ‘mensis horribilis’.”

“Frankly, farmers like me are counting down to 20 September when we get the advance. After the rare West Coast drought this year, we’ve got more than an overdraft to start clearing.”

He added that farmers have enough on their plates without worrying about processor’s milk quality and reminded everyone that it will be a year before full payment is received.