TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has summoned several producers of halal-certified snacks recently suspected of containing pork. MUI's Head of Fatwa, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, said the companies presented laboratory test results for their products during the meeting.
According to Niam, the four companies, which act as either importers or producers of the seven products in question, have provided their accounts. “Each company explained the entire process, from sourcing raw materials to lab testing,” he told Tempo at the Gren Alia Hotel in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, May 6.
Niam acknowledged and appreciated the transparency shown by the marshmallow manufacturers. He said MUI is now investigating where in the supply chain pork-derived ingredients may have entered the production process of products that had previously received halal certification.
At present, MUI is working to coordinate with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) regarding the findings. These involve seven children’s snack products suspected of containing pork derivatives.
“The public must be protected from potential fraud. But at the same time, we must not penalize anyone unjustly,” Niam said.
The products under scrutiny include three ChompChomp Mallow marshmallows imported from China by PT Catur Global Sukses; two other marshmallow items under the Corniche brand, also from China and imported by PT Dinamik Multi Sukses; a gelatin-based jelly snack called Hakiki produced by PT Hakiki Donarta; and a Larbee-branded marshmallow imported by PT Budi Indo Perkasa.
Muti Arintawati, President Director of the Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics of MUI (LPPOM MUI), confirmed that findings from BPJPH about the seven allegedly tainted halal products have been handed over to government authorities. Muti stated that LPPOM’s own laboratory tests did not detect any traces of pork in the products.
“Regulatory oversight is the government’s responsibility, in this case BPOM and BPJPH. As a Halal Inspection Agency (LPH), we have passed our findings to them,” Muti said in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, May 6.
She clarified that LPPOM’s role is limited to conducting tests. The results from LPPOM’s inspection of nine products suspected of containing pork have already been submitted to BPJPH. At the time of testing, she said, all products met halal standards.
“When a change in composition is discovered later on, we defer to the government,” she added.
On April 21, 2025, BPJPH and BPOM jointly announced that DNA from pigs had been detected in nine marshmallow products. BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan said the agency has issued sanctions, including ordering the withdrawal of seven halal-certified products from circulation.
For the remaining two products, which were found to have provided inaccurate information during the registration process, BPOM has issued warnings and instructed the businesses to immediately pull the items from the market. These actions are in line with Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food and Government Regulation No. 69 of 1999 on Food Labeling and Advertising.
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