One of Australia's largest suppliers of baby formula, Nutricia, says there is no need to recall any batches of its product in Australia in light of a botulism scare in New Zealand.

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra said yesterday that it would recall over 1,000 tonnes of its products after finding a strain of harmful bacteria in batches of whey protein.

The bacteria can cause botulism, a potentially fatal disease which affects the muscles and can cause respiratory problems. Infant botulism can attack the intestinal system.

New Zealand's ministry of primary industries confirmed five batches of Karicare formula for babies aged six months and older were produced using the contaminated product.

Karicare is made by Nutricia from products supplied by Fonterra and one of the batches was being stored in Australia.

The Department of Agriculture says it believes only one Australian company imported the batch, and it has been cleared.

Nutricia says it has recalled two specific Karicare infant formulas in New Zealand - Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 (0-6 months, batch numbers 3169 and 3170), and Karicare Gold+ Follow On Formula Stage 2 (6-12 months, batch number D3183).

Fonterra says the contamination occurred in an unsanitary pipe in May last year but it did not receive confirmation of the bacteria strain until last week.

It has prompted questions in New Zealand over the time it took for the company to detect the contamination and notify authorities.

New Zealand authorities investigate

The ministry of primary industries says Fonterra told it that the products in question were exported to Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia

New Zealand's primary industries spokesman Damien O'Connor says Fonterra has to establish which products may have been affected.

"Fonterra has a big job to get out there to clarify exactly where this product might have gone and then to reassure people that their brand is one of high quality safe food," he said.

New Zealand trade minister Tim Groser has promised a full investigation.

China, which imports most of its milk powder from New Zealand, asked domestic importers to recall any products which may have been contaminated by the bacteria, and ramped up scrutiny of New Zealand dairy products coming into the country.

Russia has suspended imports and circulation of Fonterra products, Russian ITAR-TASS news agency said on Saturday, quoting the country's consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor.

Fonterra said it was up to companies to announce recalls, adding that none had done so yet.

It would not comment on the level of contamination found in the whey protein product.

"At this stage, no product recalls have been announced," Fonterra said in a statement.

It said three food companies, two beverage companies and three animal stock feed manufacturers were affected.

Chinese state radio said Fonterra was notifying three Chinese firms affected by the contamination.

China's product safety agency said it had asked New Zealand to take immediate measures to "prevent the products in question from harming the health of Chinese consumers".

This is the second contamination scare involving Fonterra this year.

In January, the company found traces of a chemical used in fertilisers in some of its milk samples.

ABC/wires