After a huge uproar by Muslim groups in Malaysia for selling porcine-tainted chocolates, Cadbury Malaysia – part of the British multinational owned by Mondelez International has said that it remains committed to ensuring that all its products are compliant with existing halal guidelines.
Two of it’s products, namely the Cadbury Dairy Milk hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk roast almond products, have been hurriedly taken off the shelves by the company. They were found tainted with porcine DNA by the Health Ministry.
More than 20 Malay-Muslim groups called for a nationwide boycott on all Cadbury products, saying that a holy war (Jihad) needs to be waged against the confectionary giant for attempting to “weaken” Muslims in Malaysia.
Many have called for the Cabdury factory to be shut down.
At a news conference, the groups which include the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), Perkasa, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Darul Islah Malaysia (Perkid), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and the Halal Muslim Entrepreneurs’ Association (Puhm) claimed that Cadbury had “crossed the line” by selling its porcine-tainted chocolates, and that swift action was needed.
Cadbury’s head of corporate affairs in Malaysia, Raja Zalina Raja Safran, said in a three paragraph statement that the company has received and heard the Muslim community’s call for a “resolution” on the matter.
“For now, we are focusing our efforts and resources on the ongoing investigation. We are working very closely with Jakim (the Malaysian Islamic Development Department) to ensure that our products are compliant with halal guidelines.
“Jakim have also commented that they will be conducting their own tests on our products and will announce the results as soon as they become available,” the statement read.
PPIM president Datuk Nadzim Johan said that they have been discussing matters with Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) and other Malay NGOs on possible legal action.
In an earlier statement, the company said it was informed that samples of its Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and the Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond that had been sent to the ministry had “tested positive for traces of porcine DNA”.
The Muslim groups also said today they will be lodging a police report against Cadbury “soon”, and called on all Muslims nationwide to unite in efforts to shut down the company’s operations in Malaysia.
Jakim has already suspended the halal certification of the two porcine-tainted Cadbury chocolate products.
Mondelez International UK, which owns the Cadbury brand reassured that this contamination has not affected Britain.
Speaking to the Asian Express Corporate Affairs spokesperson Tony Bilsborough, reassured consumers that “the matter in Malaysia has not effected the brand’s ingredients integrity whatsoever in the UK”.
