( CNN ) -- China has halted imports of some New Zealand milk powders after a company disclosed that three batches of an ingredient used in sports drinks and baby formula tested positive for a strain of bacteria that causes botulism . The New Zealand-based Fonterra Group said Saturday that three batches of its whey protein tested positive for the Clostridium botulinum bacteria . Those batches were n't for use in Fonterra-branded products , but they said companies that used the whey protein in their products might issue recalls . Fonterra , the world 's largest dairy exporter , said it had warned companies that bought the whey protein about the problem . `` As a result , these customers are urgently investigating whether any of the affected product , which contains a strain of Clostridium , is in their supply chains , '' the company said . Three of those clients have told Fonterra that their products are safe . `` Our technical teams have been working closely this weekend with Coca-Cola , Wahaha and Vitaco and have established that the process used to manufacture their products would kill the bacteria that was in the affected whey protein concentrate , '' Gary Romano , Fonterra 's managing director of NZ Milk Products , said in a company statement . Wary Chinese mothers buy breast milk online . But China -- where at least six babies died from tainted milk powder in 2008 -- has halted all imports of New Zealand milk powders from New Zealand and Australia , New Zealand 's Trade Minister Tim Groser said in an interview on television network TVNZ on Sunday . But in an update on its website , the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries clarified that Chinese authorities had suspended imports of Fonterra-produced Whey Powder and Dairy Base powder , while also increasing inspection and supervision of New Zealand dairy products . `` China has not closed the market to all New Zealand dairy products , '' the ministry said . `` And it has also been quite specific about the range of Fonterra products which it has temporarily suspended . '' Dairy is a key industry in New Zealand , making up about 3 % of its GDP . The Trade Ministry said Australia , Malaysia , Saudi Arabia , Thailand and Vietnam also imported the product . Botulism can be fatal , with symptoms typically beginning within 36 hours of consuming contaminated food . The infection can result in paralysis and respiratory failure , according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health . In the 2008 scandal , milk powder was contaminated with melamine , a chemical commonly used in laminates , wood adhesives and flame retardants that can be used to mimic high-protein additives . Chinese authorities arrested more than 18 people and executed two in the contamination scandal , which saw thousands sickened in addition to the infant deaths . The company involved , Sanlu Group , was partially owned by Fonterra . Sanlu group later filed for bankruptcy . Two years later , a Fonterra-supplied company in China faced scrutiny over claims that their milk powder led to premature sexual development in infant girls . At the time , Fonterra said it remained `` 100 % confident about the quality of its products . '' CNN 's Mitra Mobasherat contributed to this report .
China halts imports of milk powders produced by a New Zealand company . The import ban comes after a botulism-causing bacteria was found in the product . Milk-powder maker Fonterra is the world 's largest exporter of dairy products . No reported illnesses yet , but it has been recalled for its entire range of milk and cream products.