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There are fears a chemical that has already poisoned more than 50,000 Chinese babies could be contaminating vegetables imported into New Zealand.
The industrial chemical melamine was last month reported as tainting milk products, but international media reports have raised concerns some fruit and vegetables could also be contaminated from fertilisers or pesticides containing the chemical.
Lydia Buchtmann from Food Standards Australia New Zealand in Canberra said Australian investigators were looking into the reports and would do a safety assessment.
They would speak to authorities in Malaysia and in other Asian countries that had tested vegetables.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, which enforces the rules here, has been alerted.
Chinese products imported into New Zealand include fresh garlic, pears, canned fruit and frozen vegetables such as broccoli. The industry generated more than $40 million last year.
Ms Buchtmann said international media reports had raised concerns about Chinese mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce and watercress.
"At this stage we can find no evidence that they're unsafe."
If the Food Standards Australia New Zealand safety assessment found a problem, then authorities would test the products.
Ms Buchtmann said a person would have to eat large quantities of contaminated dairy or vegetable produce over months to suffer ill effects.
Meanwhile, Foodstuffs (Auckland) has recalled a stir-fry mix as it may contain metal fragments.
The McCain's Stir Fry Vegetables Pasta Alfredo with Sauce in the 600g stand-up bag with a best-before date of December 21, 2009, has been removed from all Foodstuffs stores.
Customers are being encouraged to return the product to the shop they bought it from for a refund.
