Terengganu health department seizes eyeball candy from 3 districts

 

The health ministry has demanded online platforms to immediately cease the sale of the gummy candy after a schoolboy in Penang choked on one.

PETALING JAYA: 

The Terengganu health department has to date seized eyeball-shaped gummy candy, said to have caused the death of a 10-year-old student last week, from retail and wholesale outlets in three districts.

Terengganu health director Dr Kasemani Embong said the seizure in Kuala Nerus, Marang and Kuala Terengganu, valued at RM1,300, was due to labelling violations, Bernama reported.

“The department will also continue to monitor and enforce food safety measures and take preventive steps to avoid incidents like the death of a boy who choked on a gummy candy in Penang from recurring,” she was quoted as saying.

The health ministry had on Feb 21 banned the sale of a gummy candy on grounds it violated food labelling regulations as it lacked a warning on choking hazards.

The law requires that “controlled jelly confectionery” with a diameter of 45mm or less must carry a choking hazard warning, especially for children under three.

Yesterday, the health ministry demanded online platforms to immediately cease the sale of gummy candy similar to the ones that the student had choked on and said it would be working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ensure that all advertisements for the product are taken down. - FMT