The Gluten Free Snack Ramen Tonkatsu flavor food product with a halal logo which recently went viral on social media allegedly contains flavors based on pig bones, the Department of Syariah Affairs has referred to the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority – BDFA, confirmed that no registration has ever been made to import the product into this country. The product has a halal label from the Nippon Halal Association, NAHA, one of the Halal certification bodies recognised by MABIMS member countries. The operation conducted by the Halal Food Control Division, Syariah Affairs Department also did not find the product being sold in any shop or supermarket in the country.

The Nippon Halal Association, NAHA in explaining the halal status of the product through its official website stated that the association has never issued a halal certificate for the product and confirmed that the use of the halal label on the product is not true. In this regard, the Ministry of Religious Affairs advises the public to be more careful when purchasing food products by first examining the labels and information written on food packages before making a purchase.

Another product that went viral on social media containing non-halal ingredients is the ‘Soft Candy with Jam’ which has a halal logo from the Halal Food Council International – Malaysia & Region which allegedly contains pork gelatin. The Syariah Affairs Department has also referred to the BDFA and confirmed that the status of the product deemed dubious has never been registered to be imported and sold in the country. The Ministry of Religious Affairs reminds owners, managers, operators, traders, suppliers and importers of products in the country to always be vigilant and be more sensitive to imported products that will be sold to the public in their respective supermarkets or shops, by ensuring that the Halal products are not mixed with non-halal ones.

Source: Radio Television Brunei