GEORGE TOWN, Jan 15 – Four NGOs urged all milk and milk product manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors on Thursday to specify the ingredients in their products to indicate whether non-vegetarian elements have been used in the production. They are the Penang Hindu Association (PHA), Malaysia Hindhudharmamamndram Penang, Global Integrated Transcendental Association of Penang (GITA) and Tamil Youth Bell Club.
PHA deputy president P. Murugiah, speaking on behalf of the NGOs, said this was of paramount importance especially during the current Thaipusam period as many of the consumers maintained a vegetarian diet for the religious festival. He said many devotees start fasting and go on a vegetarian diet one month before the day of Thaipusam.
“Milk or milk products become their main diet, and are consumed daily. We wish to inform the consumers and public that some of the milk products have non-vegetarian elements. Some of the ingredients used are actually derived from or originated from fish oil, animal fat or meat by-products,” he told a press conference here.
Murugiah said not only the labelling should be made compulsory but it must be clearly stated on the packages whether the ingredients were vegetarian or non-vegetarian. He said PHA’s main objective is to bring awareness to the public and to educate them to read the labels first before consuming.
“For the consumers not to be misled, we need the cooperation of the manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers in ensuring proper labelling and declaration on the packages. Thus, PHA with the support of the other NGOs urged the federal government and the respective ministry to review and make it compulsory for the labelling and content description of the various milk products and additives in order to bring awareness to the public and consumers,” he added.
