PETALING JAYA: Several online platforms are unlisting the sale of ping-pong ball-sized gummy candies, adhering to a directive from the Health Ministry.
A check showed that the candies were no longer available for sale on ecommerce platforms. These confectionary items were previously sold for as low as 80sen per piece or RM12.50 for a 30-piece jar.
Last week, 10-year-old Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin died after choking on a gummy candy he bought outside his SK Sungai Dua school in Butterworth.
An ecommerce company said it was aware of the Health Ministry’s call to ban the sale of such products and had since taken down the listings.
“We are committed to upholding ethical practices and adhering to relevant laws and regulations to protect our customers.
“Product listings that have been identified by regulators as non-compliant have been taken down,” the firm said.
On Friday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was reported to have said that two online shopping platforms were instructed to take down advertisements that promoted the product.
In Penang, state health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said follow-up monitoring of stalls selling snacks near the school showed that traders adhered to advice from health authorities to stop selling candy with choking hazards.
He said the state Health Department seized the product, identified as “Gummy Original Basketball Soft Candy”, from the snack stalls last week after the tragedy.
Gooi stated that health experts advised the sellers on how to be aware of potential hazards concerning their products in the stalls, adding that the department would consistently monitor the situation
The ministry investigated and found that the gummy candy violated labelling requirements set under the Food Regulations 1985 of the Food Act 1983 [Act 281]. These regulations state that products with a diameter of 45mm or less must include a choking hazard and age restriction label.
Product seizures have been reported across two states, first in Penang, where the incident occurred, and most recently in Terengganu.
On Monday, Terengganu health director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong revealed that enforcement in Kuala Nerus, Marang and Kuala Terengganu resulted in gummy candies worth about RM1,300 being seized.
