KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has intensified its enforcement actions against eyeball-shaped gummy candies following the tragic choking death of a 10-year-old boy in Penang. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that two major online shopping platforms have been ordered to remove advertisements for the banned product.
The MOH’s Food Safety and Quality Division identified 86 advertisement links promoting the candy and instructed the platforms to take them down immediately. Additionally, district health offices nationwide have been directed to conduct enforcement operations on physical premises and seize any remaining stock of the hazardous product.
“We have taken strict measures to prevent such incidents from recurring. Enforcement teams are actively identifying sellers and confiscating the products wherever they are found,” said Dr. Dzulkefly. The announcement was made during the launch of the First 1,000 Days of Life: Langkawi Longitudinal Study and Digitalisation using Cloud-Based Clinic Management System in Langkawi.
The MOH had previously banned the sale of the eyeball-shaped gummy candy across all platforms and within the domestic market. Investigations revealed that the product violated labeling requirements under the Food Regulations 1985 of the Food Act 1983 (Act 281), raising further safety concerns.
The 10-year-old victim, a Year Four student from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua, reportedly bought the candy outside his school before attending his afternoon class on February 18. He later choked on the candy and succumbed to complications at the Penang Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on February 22.
The incident has sparked national concern over food safety and regulation, prompting authorities to strengthen monitoring of imported confectionery products. The MOH is urging parents and school administrators to remain vigilant about potentially hazardous food items being sold to children.
Meanwhile, industry stakeholders are calling for tighter enforcement against unregulated food imports and stricter licensing requirements for online sellers. The ministry has assured the public that it will continue to track down any remaining distributors and take decisive action to prevent further tragedies.
The MOH urges the public to report any continued sale of the banned product via its official complaint channels. Investigations and enforcement actions are ongoing.