Golden Churn Butter Is Not Halal- Jakim

The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) yesterday confirmed that the ‘Pure Creamery Butter-Golden Churn’ sold in Malaysia is non-halal, reports Bernama online newspaper.

According to the reports of the Malaysian media, the director-general of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia, Othman Mustapha, said the decision was made after finding that the product came from the same factory as that distributed in Sarawak, although there were brought into the country by different importers.

“This was confirmed by the agent of Ballantyne Food, from New Zealand, which manufactures the product.Therefore, Muslims should not use the product,” he said in a statement, reports Bernama.

Last July 19, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department had declared the product non-halal after it was found to contain pig DNA.

Othman said the company had been informed of the matter and it had agreed to withdraw the product from the shelves.

He said the decision was made after discussing the matter with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, the Chemistry Department, the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Johor Islamic Religious Department on Aug 8.

With the product being confirmed non-halal, he advised holders and new applicants of the halal certificate who use the product to change it with other type of butter which is certified halal and to keep the purchase receipt of the new product as proof.

They are also required to carry out a ritual cleansing process by using clay soil and water, known as ’samak’, and it has to be witnessed by the Islamic Religious Department in the respective states, he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Maldives has informed the media that the Halal-Haram Committee of the Ministry is now investigating the case and checking if the product that is imported to Maldives contains prohibited substances.