Jakim orders recall of Indonesian food products over porcine DNA

 Jakim director-general Sirajuddin Suhaimee urges importers to arrange for the products to be removed from the market.

Jakim issued the recall following an announcement by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency after porcine DNA was found in 11 batches of nine food products.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 The Islamic development department (Jakim) has ordered the immediate recall of several imported food products from Indonesia after tests revealed they contained porcine DNA.

Jakim director-general Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the affected products might compromise halal standards and urged importers to arrange for their removal from the market.

“Protecting the rights of Muslim consumers and maintaining the integrity of our halal certification system are top priorities,” he said in a statement today, Bernama reported.

The recall follows an announcement by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), after a joint investigation with the republic’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) found traces of porcine DNA in 11 batches of nine food products.

Of these, nine batches from seven products were found to have halal certification, while two batches from two products were uncertified, as listed here.

Sirajuddin said that Jakim is collaborating with the different state Islamic religious councils and the state Islamic departments to monitor and inspect any flagged products that may have reached the local market.

Consumers are encouraged to report sightings of the affected items through Jakim’s complaints portal. - FMT