Authorities ban sale and advertising of dangerous sweets as concerns over child safety grow.
Malaysia Takes Action Against ‘Eyeball-Shaped’ Gummies Following Fatal Choking Incident
LANGKAWI – Malaysian authorities have ordered e-commerce platforms to remove advertisements for ‘eyeball-shaped’ gummy candies after the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy who allegedly choked on the sweet. This follows an earlier nationwide ban issued by the Health Ministry on 21 February prohibiting the sale of the product.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that 86 online advertisements for the candies were detected on Shopee and TikTok, prompting enforcement action. The Food Safety and Quality Division has since directed both platforms to immediately take down these listings.
“We have also deployed district health officers across the country to inspect physical stores and confiscate any remaining stock,” Dzulkefly said during an event in Langkawi on Sunday, as reported by local media outlet Bernama.
The banned product was found to have violated Malaysia’s Food Regulations 1985 under the Food Act 1983 (Act 281), particularly concerning labelling requirements.
The incident occurred on Thursday, when Fahmi Hafiz Fakhruddin, a Year Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua in Butterworth, died in the intensive care unit of Penang Hospital after choking on the candy two days earlier. Reports indicate that he had purchased the sweet outside his school before attending a religious class.
Following his death, Penang Health Department officials conducted an inspection and seized the “Gummy Original Basketball Soft Candy” from a shop in the Jalan Sungai Dua area.
Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Penang’s State Health and Sports Committee chairman, confirmed that authorities had also inspected stalls near schools, as initial findings suggested that Fahmi had bought the candy from one of these vendors.
Authorities have urged parents to be more vigilant about the snacks their children consume, particularly items with choking risks.
The Education Ministry has also stepped in, directing schools to report unauthorised food vendors and work with local authorities to regulate sales near school premises.
“While the ministry cannot directly control vendors operating outside schools, it is crucial that student safety remains a priority,” said Education Ministry director-general Azman Adnan in a statement on Thursday.
A 2021 guideline restricts the sale of food and beverages within a 40-metre radius of school gates, with local councils responsible for enforcing the rule, according to Free Malaysia Today.
In light of the tragedy, health experts and child safety advocates are calling for stricter enforcement of food safety laws.
Dr Mohamad Ikram Ilias, president of the Malaysian Paediatric Association, emphasised that gummy candies pose a choking hazard, particularly for young children.
“This tragic incident highlights the need for greater parental supervision when it comes to choosing snacks for children. Chewy sweets like gummies can be dangerous, and it is essential for parents and guardians to ensure that food given to children is safe,” he told Bernama on Saturday.
