Business. Scoop » Expert Identifies “Major Risk” To Public Health From Blueberry Imports
Press Release – Blueberries New ZealandThe nations leading experts on pests and diseases, the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), says the plan creates a major risk of products infected with foodborne. . .
Press Release – Blueberries New ZealandThe nations leading experts on pests and diseases, the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), says the plan creates a major risk of products infected with foodborne pathogens. New Zealand could experience a major e-coli outbreak such as that troubling health services in the US, if the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) goes ahead with plans to allow fresh blueberries into New Zealand. The nation’s leading experts on pests and diseases, the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), says the plan creates a major risk of products infected with foodborne pathogens. A report by BSI to Blueberries New Zealand in June 2026 said MPI must address the danger of imported fresh berries carrying notifiable foodborne pathogens such asEntamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis,andCryptosporidiumspp. In America right now, a major outbreak of e-coli has been traced to frozen organic blueberries imported from Chile – one of the countries which will be allowed to send fresh organic blueberries to New Zealand. The report says the pathogens are resistant to disinfection, washing and refrigeration. They recommended microscopic inspection of imported fruit for presence of oocyst[1]or testing fruit washings for the pathogens. Producers in the five countries exporting to New Zealand should be required to ensure hygienic practices by field workers, and prevented from using animal waste as fertiliser, and infected water for irrigation. The report recommended that MPI not allow import of organic blueberries as no available controls would prevent the pathogens. It also condemned MPI’s risk assessment for its “key systemic knowledge gaps or data deficiencies”. Trudy O’Halloran, Chairperson of Blueberries New Zealand said the report underscored its serious concerns that MPI had not been thorough in preparing the standard. “The biosecurity risk to fruit production and exports of new pests and diseases is huge, but the risk to human health is also very real,” she said. “It seems ridiculous to stop a tourist at the border over a sandwich, while allowing hundreds of tonnes of unchecked berries into the country. “MPI needs to set rules for imports that are the equivalent of those that have to be met by our own producers and exporters. ”Content Sourced fromscoop. co. nzOriginal url