Cadbury chocolate samples could have been contaminated - Health Ministry

The Health Ministry said on Tuesday it does not rule out the possibility of contamination of the two samples of chocolate that it had tested positive for porcine DNA.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the samples of the Cadbury chocolate were taken from shelves and not from the factory.

"The result is still positive but the particular sample taken from the place that might possibly be contaminated cannot be ruled out.

"We are not doubting the lab test but the sample was not taken from the factory," he told Bernama.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry and the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) would strengthen cooperation in monitoring and setting the benchmark certified by Standards Malaysia.

The ministry issued a statement on May 24 saying that it had detected porcine DNA in samples of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond chocolate.

Jakim said on Monday that two samples of similar chocolate it had obtained from the factory were free of porcine DNA.