No pork DNA in Cadbury chocs in Singapore: AVA

It confirms no such imports but will check all similar products

Cadbury Malaysia on Monday recalled two chocolate products after they tested positive for traces of pork DNA.
Cadbury Malaysia on Monday recalled two chocolate products after they tested positive for traces of pork DNA. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has confirmed that Singapore did not import the batch of Cadbury chocolates that contained traces of pork DNA.

Still, it will conduct checks on all similar Cadbury products available here. This is to "ensure that the ingredients used in the manufacturing of the products are truly as declared under the statement of ingredients", the AVA said in a statement on Monday.

Cadbury Malaysia is conducting a full review of its supply chain after it had to recall its Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond items, which were found with traces of porcine DNA, The Star newspaper reported yesterday.

A check with local supermarket chains, including FairPrice, found that consumers have not raised concerns about Cadbury chocolates so far.

A FairPrice spokesman said it has confirmed with suppliers that it does not carry the affected products in its stores, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

A Sheng Shiong spokesman said: "As AVA has clarified this incident very clearly, our customers didn't seem to have an issue with Cadbury chocolates carried and sold here."

She added that the Cadbury chocolates sold at its 33 stores are imported from Australia.

A spokesman for Dairy Farm, which runs the Cold Storage and Giant chains, said it has not received any queries or feedback from customers.

Cold Storage imports Cadbury chocolates from Australia and Britain, while Giant gets its chocolates from Australia, she added.

The Malaysian government has said it will conduct inspection of all of Cadbury Malaysia's products.

Reuters reported that the pork traces were found during a periodic check for non-halal ingredients in foods by Malaysia's Ministry of Health. In a post on its Facebook page, Cadbury Malaysia said all other Malaysian-made products were not impacted by the test.

Muslims make up more than 60 per cent of Malaysia's population. Like most food makers in the country, Cadbury Malaysia has all of its products certified halal to conform with Islamic dietary restrictions, which prohibit pork.

roysim@sph.com.sg

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