Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has raised concerns over the circulation of nine children's snack products found to contain pork-derived (porcine) ingredients.
The products were identified by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) as containing non-halal elements.
These snacks, which are brightly packaged and sweet-tasting, are believed to be aimed specifically at children.
"We are concerned because children are the primary targets of these products. In addition to being non-halal, the content of these snacks also poses health risks," said KPAI Deputy Chairman Jasra Putra in a statement on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
According to Jasra, some of these snacks were sold with falsified halal labels or without clear disclosure of their porcine content, an act he described as misleading to Muslim consumers.
"We hope that if there is negligence or intention, there will be strict sanctions from the police. This is related to the growth and development of children, it's not just about food but also about the belief in whether the products are halal or not. This needs immediate attention from the government," Jasra emphasized.
He added that KPAI's monitoring of several e-commerce platforms showed sales of these snacks had already reached tens of thousands. At one online store based in North Jakarta, a single product had reportedly sold 70,000 units.
"Now imagine if we calculate the distribution across the entire country. The big question is, what about children living in remote areas who might also be consuming these products?" he said.
Jasra further stated that the misuse of the halal logo constitutes consumer deception. He urged businesses to provide transparent information regarding prohibited ingredients, as mandated by Law Number 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance and its implementing regulation, Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024.
He also cited Article 8 of the Consumer Protection Law, which prohibits businesses from distributing goods that do not match their labeling.
"If proven to violate this, businesses can face a maximum of five years in prison or a fine of up to Rp2 billion," he said.
The list of children's snacks containing pork as released by BPOM and BPJPH includes:
- Corniche Fluffy Jelly Marshmallow (Various Flavors: Lychee, Orange, Strawberry, Grape)
- Corniche Teddy Apple Flavored Marshmallow
- ChompChomp Car Mallow (Car Shaped Marshmallow)
- ChompChomp Flower Mallow (Flower Shaped Marshmallow)
- ChompChomp Tube-shaped Marshmallow (Mini Marshmallow)
- Hakiki Gelatin (Food Additive for Gel Formation)
- Larbee-TYL Marshmallow with Vanilla Filling
- AAA Orange Flavored Marshmallow
- SWEETME Chocolate Flavored Marshmallow