Lead level in corn shipment found 'by accident'

26 July 2004
By COLIN PATTERSON
"The Food Safety Authority says contamination in a shipment of corn from China was discovered by accident. The corn, which contained more than 100 times the safe level of lead, was imported in October. It was then milled before being used by food manufacturers in products such as baby foods, soups, batters and baking goods. The contamination was not detected in tests at the flour mill. Instead it was discovered when the authority tested infant formula as part of its Total Diet Survey. The survey was carried out once every five years, authority spokeswoman Sally Johnston said...."