Police probing threat to poison New Zealand infant formula

New Zealand Police have begun visiting food retailers around the country as they continue to investigate a threat to poison infant formula, a senior police officer said Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said police had received 42 contacts from the public in relation to the probe, and all information was being thoroughly considered and dealt with appropriately.

Police were progressively distributing information for consumers and retailers on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

"It is important that all retailers selling infant formula have access to the same information for the benefit of all consumers," Clement said.

Police had identified a large number of people they wanted to talk to and it would take time to work through all of them.

"We are doing this in a meticulous and thorough way to ensure nothing is missed which may help us," he said.

Police revealed Tuesday that letters sent to the Federated Farmers industry group and the Fonterra dairy cooperative were accompanied by small packages of milk powder that subsequently tested positive for the presence of a concentrated form of the pesticide 1080.

The letters threatened to contaminate infant and other formula with 1080 unless New Zealand stopped using 1080 for pest control by the end of March 2015.

Sodium monofluoroacetate, known as 1080, is a poison used to protect New Zealand's native flora and fauna against introduced pests such as possums and ferrets.

Its use has been controversial over the years with opponents saying it poisons non-target animals and contaminates the environment. Endi