Cadbury Malaysia Recalls Two Chocolate Products Found to Have Traces of Pork

The Cadbury name is seen on a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate.REUTERS

Cadbury Malaysia has recalled two of its chocolate products which were found to have traces of pork DNA, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

In Malaysia, more than 60% of the population are Muslims who are prohibited to eat pork under Islam's dietary restrictions.

Cadbury Malaysia, a part of Mondelez International Inc, has all of its products certified "halal", broadly meaning any object or an action that is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law.

In a periodic inspection by Malaysia's ministry of health, chocolate products Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond were found to have contained pork traces.

Following the announcement, outraged consumers demanded an apology from the company on the social media. Some have called for a boycott of Cadbury products.

Subsequently, the company said it understands consumers' distress and is undertaking a full review of its supply chain to ensure that its food products are meeting halal standards.

Meanwhile, the government said it will check all Cadbury Malaysia products thoroughly to ensure they are safe for Muslims to eat, according to the report. The government body, Jakim, is in charge of halal certification in Malaysia. Jakim's certification is widely recognized in Muslim communities around the world.

Cadbury Malaysia added that it will continue to work with Jakim and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of its products.

"We understand how critical halal is to all of us here in Malaysia. We acknowledge the distress this issue is causing and we want to reassure you that nothing is more important to us than your trust in our product quality," head of corporate affairs, Raja Zalina Raja Safran, said in a statement.