AgResearch has defended its testing of Fonterra's whey concentrate products that led to a false alarm over the presence of a botulism toxin.
The Ministry for Primary Industries last week announced the bacteria found in some of Fonterra's whey concentrate was not the botulism-causing Clostridium botulinum, but Clostridium sporogenes, which has no safety issues.
The false results, on tests by Crown-owned AgResearch this month, dented the country's food safety reputation and cost exporters millions of dollars in lost revenue.
AgResearch has hit back at reports that they were behind the major error.
"Contrary to some statements in the media, AgResearch did not confirm the presence of Clostridium botulinum in the isolates provided by Fonterra, but reported that the research had potentially detected Clostridium botulinum and recommended that further testing be conducted," the company said in a statement.