Fonterra must be squeaky clean, says farmer

Chasing the high dollar market, Fonterra needs to be "squeaky clean" when it comes to supplying products to those markets, Wairarapa dairy farmer Cameron Stuart says.

Farmers throughout the country are reeling from the aftermath of the latest Fonterra milk scandal, with milk formula recalled from international and domestic markets because of fears the whey product could be contaminated with the bacteria botulism.

It's the third scandal to deal a blow to the diary giant's reputation.

In 2008, six children died and 300,000 fell ill in China after drinking formula with melamine mixed into it.

This year, the nitrate-inhibiting agrichemical DCD was found in milk products.

Te Ore Ore farmer Mr Stuart said he was gutted the latest incident again involved baby formula.

"I'm devastated it has been baby formula - it's the most important food of the lot ... we have let the side down."

It is believed the possible contamination was caused by an unclean pipe at a Waikato Fonterra plant.

Hygiene in the shed was paramount for suppliers and Fonterra needed to ensure stringent practices in its factories, he said.

"They have to be squeaky clean ... we chase that high product market,so we have to be up there or our integrity as a company takes a hit ... and how the mighty have fallen. We have got to learn from this."

Federated Farmers Wairarapa dairy chairman Chris Engel said Fonterra had acted responsibly so farmers could be confident as suppliers.

"This is the first product recall in over 100 years. They have done the right thing," he said.