Cadbury chocolates pulled from Saudi shelves amid fears of traces of pork

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn Cadbury chocolate bars from the market for tests to ensure the products do not contain traces of pig DNA, after the banned substance was detected in Malaysia.

Pork is strictly banned in Islam and traces of pig DNA were found during routine checks for non-halal substances in Malaysia, also prompting Indonesia to test Cadbury chocolate.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority said late Saturday (Shenzhen: 002291.SZ - news) on its website the decision is only a precautionary move and involves testing samples of Cadbury Dairy Milk hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk almond roast.

The statement said, however, that the Cadbury chocolate sold in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom is not imported from Malaysia, but is produced locally or in Egypt.

"We do not have any proof (yet) that there are any traces of pork in the products sold in Saudi Arabia," the food and drug authority said.

But an investigation is underway to determine if any of the Cadbury sold on the Saudi market was imported from Malaysia, it added.

Pork and its by-products, alcohol and animals not slaughtered according to Islamic procedures are not considered halal (permissible), and they are strictly forbidden to Muslims.