Editorial: Threat harms poison protest

The threat against infant formula is 'savage and shocking'.

The threat to poison infant formula with 1080 is so savage and so shocking that it makes you question the world we live in.

What twisted mind would contemplate such an abhorrent act? How could someone conclude that it was the best way to further their cause?

It threatened our dairy industry and has alarmed parents.

The Ministry of Primary Industries has tested more than 40,000 raw milk and product samples after Federated Farmers received anonymous threats in the mail.

While it is a relief that no contamination was found, there is still much at risk.

As Welcome Bay dairy farmer Andrew McLeod noted, the impact of the threat "could have catastrophic effects on the whole economy and farming industry".

Sales of infant formula to about 75 countries are worth about $440 million. We can only hope that New Zealand infant formula will not be banned from major markets, like China.

The 1080 debate has raged for years. Putting the merits of the opposing arguments aside, this threat has done nothing but damage for those lobbying to ban the poison. No doubt this group is just as aghast as the rest of the country over the turn of events.

Attention now turns to identifying the blackmailer. Hopefully someone will know the culprit or have an idea of who is responsible and tell police.

This brush with eco-terrorism is new to this country. It is not how we fight for our beliefs or resolve different points of view. Conflicts such as the debate over the use of 1080 can only be resolved with scientific evidence and reasoned debate.