2 ‘tainted’ Cadbury products still halal, says National Fatwa Council

Cadbury dairy milk hazelnut and Cadbury dairy milk roast almond are safe for Muslim consumption despite traces of pig DNA. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 29, 2014.The National Fatwa Council today says today that it will maintain the “halal” status of two Cadbury products which contained traces of pig DNA.

The decision means the chocolates are safe to be consumed by Muslims.

National Fatwa Council committee chairman Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said it was included under “Umum al-Balwa”, a rampant problem which was difficult to avoid, Bernama reported him as saying today.

"In the case of ready-made products that had been marketed to consumers and produced through processes using clean and halal ingredients and had been confirmed as halal, but later found it had been contaminated with pig DNA in certain batches only, then the committee had decided that it was categorised as 'Umum al-Balwa'.

"The ruling on the product is referred to the original ruling, that is, halal for consumption because the contamination occurred beyond the scope of control and difficult to avoid," he said in a statement today.

Tests conducted by the Health Ministry on two chocolate products, Cadbury dairy milk hazelnut, with batch number 200813M01H I2 that expires on November 13, 2014, and Cadbury dairy milk roast almond, with batch number 221013N01R I1, that expires on January 15, 2015, had found pig DNA in them.

Following this, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) suspended the products' halal certification, while Cadbury said it would recall them from stores.

Shukor said Muslims who had consumed such chocolates need not have any doubt about the cleanliness of their body and need not cleanse their stomach, mouth or blood.

"Islam is not a religion that is too rigid and causes an inconvenience to its believers, especially in a situation that is beyond their knowledge or control,” Bernama reported him as he saying.

The Health Ministry will also conduct a thorough analysis on all Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia Sdn Bhd products soon to ensure that they are not contaminated by pig DNA (porcine).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the results of the analysis, however, would only be known in the next several months because they would have to undergo several processes and procedures before the results could be finalised.