According to Brunei-based news outlet, Borneo Bulletin, the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) sent a sample of the famous White Rabbit sweet for laboratory analysis done by the Halal Food Control Division and Ministry of Health’s Scientific Services Department. It was reportedly found that pig protein was present in these sweets.
Soon after these findings were unveiled, the MoRA asked for the cooperation of retailers and importers to isolate the China-made sweets and place them in non-Halal sections, also advising importers to label the product’s ingredients and contents clearly in Malay and English.
Source: Yum China
In light of this report, Islamic affairs bodies in Malaysia have also begun taking steps to investigate this matter. According to the Borneo Post, Sarawak Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) instructed the Sarawak Religious Islamic Department (JAIS) to look into these findings.
The White Rabbit sweets have now been certified non-Halal in Brunei. Meanwhile, ice cream shops in the country will no longer be producing White Rabbit candy ice cream, as announced via their Instagram pages.
In Brunei, confusing and deceiving labelling is considered an offence under the country’s Public Health (Food) Act, which can land guilty parties with a five-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities have yet to confirm these findings, so stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Also read: Report: Malaysian Consumers Warned That Fish May Be Non-Halal, Here’s Why
