Cadbury boycott stays, Muslim group says after conflicting results
(The Malay Mail) – A Muslim consumer group today urged the government to standardise food testing by its agencies, after Islamic authorities today contradicted the Health Ministry on the detection of porcine DNA in two Cadbury Malaysia’s confectionery products.
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) is also maintaining its boycott of all products under the Cadbury Malaysia and Kraft Foods Manufacturing Malaysia, insisting the action is based on the Health Ministry’s statement that triggered the controversy.
“We will not stand down from our boycott until KKM (health ministry) issues a denial and says ‘sorry guys, we made a mistake’,” PPIM activist Sheikh Abd Kareem S. Khadaied told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
On May 24, the health ministry announced that it detected pig DNA in samples taken from the Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Dairy Milk Roast Almond products already out in the market, sparking an uproar among Muslim groups.
But the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) announced today that an analysis by the Chemisty Department of samples of the two products taken from the factory found no traces of porcine contamination in the chocolates.
Abd Kareem said today it was ridiculous that consumers have to deal with conflicting positions by government departments on the issue, pointing to a clear conflict in standard operating procedures (SOP) by the Health Ministry and Jakim in testing the products.
