Editorial: Threats a toxic own goal

Countdown has removed infant formula from its shelves, in response to the threats. Photo / Bridie Witton

You really have to wonder about the criminal mind(s) behind the infant formula poisoning threat.

Police this week revealed letters were sent to Fonterra and Federated Farmers in November threatening to contaminate infant formula with 1080 if New Zealand didn't stop using the pesticide by the end of March. It's as bizarre as it is frightening - and not just frightening for parents of young children but for the dairy sector and export economy.

Who would think threatening the nation's babies would be an effective method of ridding New Zealand of 1080? I'd hesitate to call it an empty threat - especially considering the letters contained milk powder laced with 1080. Whoever's behind it has found a way to get their hands on the poison.

But the notion that someone thought innocents should be targeted to make a political point about pest control is scary. What next? Anti-fluoride campaigners making bomb threats? Anti-vaxxers targeting the elderly? I don't even want to think about what the climate change deniers are capable of. If anything, this stunt, and let's hope it's just a stunt, has done harm to the anti-1080 movement.

It has thrown suspicion on other campaigners, and done a lot to discredit them. Chris Claridge, managing director of infant formula company Carrickmore Nutrition, said yesterday that when it came to contamination threats "what we see internationally is generally they don't carry out the threats, they are a mechanism to gain publicity". Well yes, the nation is certainly talking about 1080 - and perhaps wondering what it is about the issue that would drive someone to these lengths.

You have to wonder if the motivation behind the threats really is to stop the use of the pesticide. Who could be that naive? On the other hand, if the motivation is to upset the applecart, cause a fuss, worry parents and risk the reputation of a major industry - mission accomplished.