Zespri kiwifruit have been taken off some supermarket shelves in China after a batch of fruit tested positive for Covid-19.
“Recently we learned that the Market Supervision Authority and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Yaohai District Hefei City Anhui Province conducted routine COVID-19 testing of fruit in the wholesale market and a sample of our kiwifruit tested positive. Test results for all fruit under investigation has since come back negative," said Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson.
"We are taking this matter extremely seriously, immediately launching our emergency management plans and cooperating with the relevant government agencies to trace the product shipment.
"The New Zealand kiwifruit industry adheres to the highest industry safety standards and to date there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in orchards or packhouses.
“We do expect some challenges from Chinese consumers, and we are prepared to address those concerns directly. The New Zealand Government is also supporting us while our constructive relationships with authorities in Shanghai have also helped us as we have moved through the situation."
The affected fruit from the Bay of Plenty was packed in May before being shipped from Tauranga on 16 August. There remains no reported community transmission in the region. The fruit was tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in China by China Customs and Zespri, as well as being disinfected, as per standard China Customs protocols.
"Since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, we have worked strictly in accordance with the requirements of the relevant national regulatory authorities and have cooperated with all the epidemic prevention and eradication work programmes for imported fruit and market distribution, to ensure that only the freshest, safest, high-quality Zespri Kiwifruit reaches our consumers.”