KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Under attack by Muslim groups for selling porcine-tainted chocolates, Cadbury Malaysia said today it remains steadfast and focused on ensuring that all its products are compliant with existing halal guidelines.
Cadbury’s head of corporate affairs Raja Zalina Raja Safran said in a three paragraph statement here 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.
Earlier today, more than 20 Malay-Muslim groups called for a nationwide boycott on all Cadbury products, saying that a holy war needs to be waged against the confectionary giant for attempting to “weaken” Muslims in Malaysia.
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.
PPIM president Datuk Nadzim Johan said that they have begun discussing matters with Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) and other Malay NGOs on possible legal action.
Cadbury’s Malaysian outfit scrambled to recall two batches of chocolate products found tainted with porcine DNA by the Health Ministry on Saturday.
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.
Rumours of the porcine taint first cropped up on social media sites last week, prompting the Health Ministry to carry out an analysis.
