KUALA LUMPUR: A homegrown ice cream chain, which has been warned by the Health Ministry a day after launching a limited-edition flavour with a traditional cough syrup, has recalled the product from all its stores nationwide.
The Inside Scoop Sdn Bhd's Marketing Director Andrew Hong said the company had contacted all 49 stores to take down the Ubat Batuk Cap Ibu dan Anak (Pei Pa Koa) flavoured ice cream immediately.
Hong said the company received a call from the Health Ministry this morning, informing them about the status of the newly launched limited-edition flavour.
"As an immediate measure, we contacted all our 49 Inside Scoop stores nationwide and ordered for the product to be recalled and discarded with immediate effect.
"We view the matter raised by the ministry very seriously and apologise for any inconvenience caused," he told the New Straits Times in an interview today.
Hong said they assumed it was okay for the brand to introduce a flavour laced with the Ubat Batuk Cap Ibu dan Anak syrup, as other ice cream chains in the region were doing the same.
"It is known to be a hot-selling flavour in Singapore and this inspired Inside Scoop to churn out its very own Pei Pa Koa flavour locally before it was launched yesterday (Monday)," he said.
"We were genuinely unaware of the Health Ministry's regulation against mixing the Pei Pa Koa cough syrup with food products, and that it is a violation under Section 13B(2) of the Food Act 1983. We regret the mistake on our part and will make sure to be extra careful/mindful in future, not to repeat the mistake," he said as he reassured consumers that other flavours were safe to consume.
Earlier, the Health Ministry said the cough syrup was a registered product under the Drug Control Authority in the traditional medicine category. It is commonly used to relieve sore throat and cough, and may be harmful to pregnant women as stated on the label.
Inside Scoop is an ice cream brand that was founded by Malaysian couple Edmund Tan and his wife, Lim Shiew Li, who opened their first store in Bangsar here in 2013. Today, the brand has 49 stores all over the country.