Over a million trays of New Zealand kiwifruit, found to have a mice problem on a ship, are set for destruction. The issue was detected on Zespri's inaugural shipment to Europe for the season. Efforts to salvage the fruit were made, with 54 percent of the pallets examined.
Zespri's response included sending personnel to Belgium and consulting external food safety experts. However, the potential food safety and reputational risks led to the decision against releasing any fruit. The complexity and resource demands of reworking the fruit, alongside the inability to fully eliminate rodent-associated risks, were significant factors. Customer concerns further influenced this decision.
Consequently, the affected fruit will be converted into biofuel, with associated costs and disposal estimated at $34 million. Ongoing engagement with insurance and shipping partners is reported by Zespri, with the recovery value pending the claims process. NZKGI's chief executive expressed the growers' disappointment but concurred with the decision, emphasizing its rarity and the industry's support for Zespri's handling of the situation. Financial repercussions for growers are acknowledged, with efforts to mitigate these through insurance and shipping negotiations highlighted.
Source: rnz.co.nz