A threat to poison baby milk powder is blackmail. Someone sent a threatening letter to both Fonterra and Federated Farmers. The letter contained a white powder which was 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate), used to kill possums, rats and stoats in the forest. The letter said that if the Department of Conservation (DOC) continued to use 1080 after 31st March, baby milk powder would be poisoned with 1080. Some people do not want 1080 used because they say birds like kea eat the poison and die. DOC, however, believes 1080 protects kea because rats and stoats eat the kea eggs.
The police is trying to find who sent these letters. Not many people have access to this white powder. DOC uses green 1080.
Meanwhile, in order to protect babies, there are now more tests of the milk powder, at a cost of $300 for every test. Supermarkets have taken milk powder off the shelves so buyers have to ask for it and can only buy 2 cans at a time.
Listen to August 26 2013 and June 19 2011 to hear more about 1080 poison. Note the figure of 30 million possums is probably correct. The earlier figure was wrong.
Vocabulary
• blackmail (n and v) – try to influence someone by saying there will be trouble if they take some action e.g. continue to use 1080
• political (adj) – it could affect our trade
• threat (n); threatening (adj) – warning of possible danger or hurt
• access – (n and v) – able to get something