A tragic incident in Penang, Malaysia, involving a 10-year-old boy, Fahmi Hafiz Fakhruddin, has prompted swift action from authorities. Fahmi died after allegedly choking on an "eyeball-shaped" gummy candy he purchased outside his school. The Health Ministry has since banned the sale of this candy on all online platforms and in the domestic market, citing breaches of the Food Regulations 1985 under the Food Act 1983.
The incident occurred shortly before Fahmi attended his religious class. The candy, identified as "Gummy Original Basketball Soft Candy," was seized by the Penang Health Department from a shop in the Jalan Sungai Dua area. In response, the Health Ministry instructed e-commerce giants Shopee and TikTok to remove all advertisements for the candy by Sunday morning.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasized his ministry's commitment to enforce this ban, identifying 86 advertisement links on Shopee and TikTok promoting the candy. He stated:
“We also instructed district health officers across the country to conduct enforcement on physical premises and seize remaining products being sold,” – Dzulkefly Ahmad
The tragedy has reignited concerns over food safety for children. The Malaysian Paediatric Association president, Mohamad Ikram Ilias, urged parents to be vigilant about their children's food choices. He noted the potential hazards of certain sweets:
“Chewy candies, such as gummies, can pose a choking hazard, particularly for young children. Therefore, parents and guardians are advised to monitor the food provided to their children, ensuring it is safe and appropriate for consumption,” – Mohamad Ikram Ilias
In addition to the Health Ministry's actions, the Education Ministry had previously set guidelines restricting food and drink sales outside school gates. Vendors are prohibited from selling within a 40-meter radius of school premises. Schools are required to report any violations and cooperate with local authorities to regulate these sales.
Azman Adnan from the Education Ministry commented on the limitations faced by the ministry regarding enforcement:
“Although the ministry does not have direct jurisdiction over vendors operating outside school premises, incidents like these and their impact on student safety must be taken seriously,” – Azman Adnan
The Health Ministry also highlighted that Malaysian law requires "controlled jelly confectionery" with a diameter of 45mm or less to carry a choking hazard warning, particularly for children under three years old.
“Malaysian law mandates that ‘controlled jelly confectionery’ with a diameter of 45mm or less must carry a choking hazard warning, especially for children under three,” – Health Ministry
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