This past Thursday, Muslim consumers in Malaysia called for a boycott on Cadbury, a British food company, and its parent company Mondelez International, after traces of pork DNA were found in both the Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Milk Roast Almond chocolate products after random testing. According to Islamic rules, Muslims are forbidden from consuming pork of any variety, and food products are regularly checked to ensure they subscribe to Islamic law, known as halal.
After a news conference in Kuala Lumbur, groups decided the company had gone too far and over 800 stores were asked to halt sales of Cadbury, Mondalez, acquired by US. Kraft food company in 2010. A full boycott was issued due to the likelihood that other Cadbury products, in addition to the chocolate, are contaminated.
“Although only two products were listed as contaminated, since the same mechanism is used to produce other products, doubt exists in our minds that all products could be exposed to the same contamination,” explained advisor affiliated with the Malaysian Muslim Wholesalers and Retailers Association, Bazeer Ahmad.
Officials of Muslim groups have called jihad, or a holy war, against Cadbury under the premise that they believe the company is attempting to “weaken” Muslims.
Ustaz Masridzi Sat, the president of a Muslim rights group in Malaysia said that when a person eats pork “it is difficult to guide him in the right path. When the day of judgment comes, that person will be wearing a pig-face because of what he has eaten.”
The issue is clearly a sore subject and grave offense to Muslims in the region, and measures are being taken to ensure these offenses are curbed.
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