Cadbury chocolate bars do not contain pig's DNA, updated test results have revealed.
According to Reuters, Cadbury previously removed two kinds of the company's chocolate products from store shelves last week, after government examinations initially detected small amounts of pork in the candies. Malaysia's Islamic Development Department, Jakim, therefore demanded people not buy products Daily Milk's Hazelnut and Roast Almond chocolates for consumers with dietary restrictions, such as Muslims who cannot eat pork under Islamic religious law. Officials have now deemed these products safe.
While porcine no longer appears to be an issue, the chocolates' halal certification remains suspended until officials complete more tests and investigations to see if Cadbury's supply chain has anymore pork-related ingredients. The Ministry of Health checked food products for the ingredients last month, after Internet gossip surfaced about the chocolates possibly containing pig, according to The Malay Mail Online.
Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia's head of research said more information is needed, however, before officials reverse their position on the matter.
"There are still a lot of question marks there," Sheikh Abdul Kareem Khadaied said.
Mondelez International, Inc., sister company to Cadbury's Malaysia sector, is cooperating with authorities to resolve the issue. Jakim previously stated that the February tests may have put the famous candy maker at a disadvantage since officials examined products already on store shelves.
A member of the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, said the group and 30 other non-governmental organizations encouraged the public not to purchase any Cadbury products in order to establish more control over what goes into food.
"This is because we need to send a message about the rights of consumers that cannot be taken for granted. We want this to be addressed seriously by the Health Ministry, Jakim and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry," Nadzim Johan said in a statement, according to The Rakayat Post.
