Fonterra is calling for improved lab-testing, saying the Environmental Science & Research laboratory lacked the capacity to identify an E.coli bacterium in cream.

New Zealand is well on the way to a record year for dairy production, thanks to ideal grass-growing conditions that carried over from 2013 into the new year, say economists.

Synlait's Chinese infant formula business is being disrupted by regulatory changes in China and the company says it may miss its baby milk sales target for this financial year.

My heart sank when I heard about Fonterra's idea to reduce the dairy industry's impact on our environment, writes Sue Kedgley.

French dairy giant Danone's Nutricia unit recalled just $25.7 million of infant formula when it was caught up in Fonterra's false food alarm last year.

Economists say a combination of rising international dairy prices and favourable farming conditions bode well for New Zealand's economic growth.

So little sunlight is being shone on how we are dealing with water and emissions ...

Dairy giant Fonterra has confirmed it is close to reaching a commercial deal with Auckland Council.

Fonterra is buying the naming rights for Shed 10 on Auckland's Queens Wharf - and will use its Anchor brand, the Herald understands.

We must work together and prioritise the restoration of waterways over short-term commercial gain, writes Dame Anne Salmond.

While the timing of this is far from ideal given last year's events, this voluntary recall came from Fonterra's own testing, writes Willy Leferink.

All commercial users of water should face a charge, writes Gareth Morgan and Geoff Simmons. This would acknowledge public ownership of the rivers and create funds to invest in repairing them.

News that Fonterra has recalled some batches of fresh cream has people worried that illness they have suffered is due to consuming the contaminated product.

Customers are being asked to return nearly 9000 bottles of fresh cream, after three positive tests for E.coli at Fonterra's Takanini plant.

Herald business editor Liam Dann says the new Fonterra recall needs to be kept in perspective - but the world is watching the dairy giant much more closely now.

Fonterra is caught up in another contamination scare, and is recalling fresh cream because of fears it could contain the E.coli bacterium.

French food giant Danone's legal action against Fonterra will cause uncertainty for investors and is more bad press for the dairy co-operative and NZ, says a commentator.

British shoppers have noticed that their favourite Anchor butter tastes different - with the explanation being it's no longer from New Zealand.

Fonterra's top executives will have plenty to think about early next year when they devise the co-operative's next three-year business plan.

Theo Spierings, the chief executive of Fonterra, said: "The elephant! So you heard about the elephant."