Malaysian Muslim groups call for jihad on Cadbury after pork traces found in chocolate

Muslim groups have declared jihad on Cadbury after two of its products sold in predominately Islamic Malaysia were found to contain traces of pork.

The discovery was made during a periodic check for non-halal ingredients in food products by the country’s health ministry, which confirmed the presence of porcine DNA in bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond.

Cadbury Malaysia, like most food makers in the country where Muslims make up more than 60 per cent of the population, has all of its products certified halal to conform with Islam’s dietary restrictions, one of which is a prohibition on pork.

A news conference was held in Kuala Lumpur where the groups claimed Cadbury had “crossed the line”.

“They have betrayed us Muslims by putting haram elements in the foods we consume,” said Abu Bakar Yahya, a leader of Malay rights group Perkasa.

Nadzim Johan, president of the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, called for all Cadbury’s factories to be shut down and for all Muslims nationwide to boycott their products.

The president of another Muslim rights group in Malaysia called for a holy war, or jihad, against the confectionery giant for attempting to “weaken” Muslims in Malaysia.

Ustaz Masridzi Sat said: “Because the person eats pork it is difficult to guide him to the right path. When the day of judgment comes, that person will be wearing a pig-face because of what he has eaten.

“We need to unite, we must declare jihad.”

The company said it was undertaking a full review of its supply chain to ensure halal standards and the Malaysian government said it will conduct inspection of all Cadbury Malaysia’s products.