KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's health minister has confirmed that chocolate bars found to contain traces of pig DNA were produced locally.
The company Cadbury Confectionary Malaysia says it has withdrawn the affected products from the market.
Earlier, the Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) suspended the Halal certification for the two types of tainted bars.
Cadbury, one of the world's most famous chocolate brands, is in hot soup in Malaysia after two of its products, Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond and Hazelnut bars, were tested by the health ministry to contain pig DNA.
The chocolate bars were tested randomly off the shelves from the northern states of Kedah and Perlis in February.
They have been certified to be halal by Malaysia's Islamic Development Department.
However, the shocking report was only made public after it was leaked last week via the social media.
"Before anybody could inform, it actually came out in the social media," said Malaysian Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.
The company says serious steps have been taken to ensure all its products comply with Islamic rules and regulations.
A quick check at some neighbourhood shops shows that Cadbury has indeed taken the roasted almond and the hazelnut milk bars off the shelves, but its other products like fruit and nut bars are still available for sale.
The health minister has promised to test all of them in a bid to find out where the pig DNA originated from.
However, angry Muslim consumers complain that it is all too little too late.
"Because it's actually one of my favourites, so to find out the news about this is very upsetting. I am very upset with Cadbury," said one Cadbury fan.
Malaysia has been actively promoting itself as a halal food hub.
The incident has now shaken public confidence on the accuracy of the halal certification issued by the country's Islamic Development Department.
- CNA/ec
