A large dairy distributor detected a type of bacteria that could cause botulism, I was found in an ingredient used in baby formula and energy drinks.
New Zealand officials recalled the infected products, the New York Times reported.
Australia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam, were affected by the contaminated products made by a company called Fronterra.
"We are acting quickly," the company's chief executive, Theo Spierings, said in a statement. "Our focus is to get information out about potentially affected product as fast as possible so that it can be taken off supermarket shelves and, where it has already been purchased, can be returned."
China has a huge demand for New Zealand infant formula since they had their own contamination scandals. In 2008 Chinese formula tainted with melamine killed several babies and caused thousands to fall ill.
After discovering the possible contamination, the company "promptly contacted the New Zealand Embassy to China and demanded that New Zealand take immediate measures to prevent problem products harming the health of Chinese consumers."
Fronterra hoped to sell a quarter-billion gallons of milk in China by 2018 by building a milk manufacturing plant in the country.
The infected ingredients included three types of whey protein concentrate produced in New Zealand.
Officials first noticed a problem with quality control in March. Upon further testing they found the Clostridium botulinum bacteria in a sample.
Unsterilized pipes are the most likely culprit for the contamination.
Fronterra did not release the names of the companies that may have been infected, but they did say product called Nutricia Karicare, for children six months and older, may have been contaminated."[The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries]has been advised that in the case of the Nutricia Karicare, five batches of follow-on formula were manufactured using the contaminated whey protein," Scott Gallacher, the ministry's acting director, said.
