Saudi Arabia tests Cadbury chocolates for pig DNA

Saudi Arabian authorities have now taken to testing Cadbury chocolate bar after traces of pig DNA were found in two of its products in Malaysia.

According to Reuters, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority said it had taken samples of chocolates made by the British confectioner from the local market to test for contamination.

It added in a statement published on its website that Cadbury products sold in the country were not manufactured in Malaysia but “strong measures” would be taken if the chocolates being tested revealed any traces of pork.

The incident grabbed headlines all Malaysia when the Health Ministry (MOH) announced on May 24 it had detected traces of pig DNA (porcine) in two samples of the Cadbury chocolate, namely the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond.

But in a turn of events, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom announced on Monday that the Chemistry Department had certified both the products were free from pig DNA.

He said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had also conducted tests on four other products in the same processing batch and five samples of raw materials; all of which were not found to contain procine.

However the halal status of the confectionary will be discussed and reinstated further investigations by Jakim revealed that Cadbury thoroughly adheres to the Malaysian halal accreditation procedures.