Malaysia orders e-commerce sites to stop ads of ‘eyeball-shaped’ gummy candies after boy chokes to death

Gooi also urged parents to be more vigilant in monitoring their children’s food choices, especially items that pose choking risks.

Following the incident, the Education Ministry also directed schools to immediately report vendors selling food and drinks outside their premises, and to work together with local authorities in monitoring and regulating its sales, local media reported. 

“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,” the ministry’s director-general Azman Adnan said in a statement on Thursday, as quoted by Bernama. 

In a circular to state education department directors, the Education Ministry also reiterated that the sale of food and drinks outside school gates is restricted under guidelines issued in 2021. 

Under the guidelines, vendors are prohibited from selling food and drinks within a 40m radius of school gates and local councils are responsible for enforcing this regulation, Free Malaysia Today reported.

Experts and relevant organisations are also advocating for stricter law enforcement, highlighting the importance of education and awareness campaigns on the dangers of certain food products, Bernama reported. 

Malaysian Paediatric Association president Mohamad Ikram Ilias said parents should learn from the incident involving the 10-year-old boy in Penang as it highlights the importance of monitoring children’s food choices, especially when selecting snacks. 

“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,” he told Bernama in a report on Saturday.