GEORGETOWN: A consumer advocacy group wants the government to urgently recall imported frozen meat that may have been wrongly labelled as halal.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) President Mohideen Abdul Kader also urged the government to take severe action against those responsible as it was an issue of great concern to Muslims in the country.
CAP was responding to a report in Sinar Harian today on the domestic trade and consumers affairs ministry having seized 1,500 tonnes of imported frozen meat that was repackaged as halal before the meat was distributed nationwide.
According to the report, the meat was imported from China, Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina.
“Due to the high price of local meat, restaurants and other food establishments are using imported frozen meat in the dishes they serve to their customers.
“Processed meat manufacturers are also using imported frozen meat in their products,” Mohideen said.
He advised local consumers to avoid buying imported frozen meat until the government can ascertain whether the labelled products are genuinely halal.