Muslims Angry After Pork DNA Purportedly Found in Popular Chocolate -- But New Tests Yield Very Different Results

Just days after Malaysian officials announced they found pork DNA in two Cadbury chocolate products, the government now says new tests for porcine DNA were negative.

News of the purported ingredient led Cadbury Malaysia to pull two of its products -- Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Dairy Milk Roast Almond -- last week. But Malaysia's Islamic Development Department apparently found that 11 new samples had no traces of the animal, Reuters reported.

Pork is forbidden for consumption under Islamic law.

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Government officials said that they would continue investigating and would suspend Cadbury's halal certification until further tests are conducted, though officials admitted that the products that initially tested positive might have been contaminated after they were taken off store shelves.

Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia, a consumer group, reportedly called for a boycott of Cadbury products last week after news of the pork DNA first broke. So far the organization hasn't reversed its stance, as it is waiting for confirmation from Malaysia's health ministry.

In a letter posted to Facebook May 30, Cadbury Malaysia defended its products and said that the company is working to resolve the ordeal.

"We have no reason to beleive that there is any porcine or pork-related incredient in our Cadbury chocolates," the letter read.

Image source: Facebook/Cadbury Malaysia

TheBlaze first reported about the situation last week, noting that the government of Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, periodically tests food products to ensure that they are halal, or in compliance with Islamic dietary restrictions.

A statement on the company’s Facebook page last week confirmed that the Ministry of Health informed Cadbury that “traces of porcine DNA” were found in samples of its chocolate.

"We are undertaking a full review of the supply chain to ensure all quality standards continue to be met," the company said. “We would like to reassure our consumers that all Cadbury chocolates manufactured in Malaysia are halal-certified by JAKIM, which includes the locations and raw materials used in the production of these products.”

Cadbury said that it understood customer disappointment over the matter and that Cadbury values comments and feedback.

(H/T: Reuters)

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