Gardenia KL investigating after claims kids fell ill from consuming its products

Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd is investigating consumer complaints following claims on social media that several children had fallen ill after consuming its products.

A Threads user recently claimed her two sons experienced vomiting after allegedly consuming Gardenia products, reported The New Straits Times on Sunday (Nov 8)

It quickly gained traction, prompting other parents to share similar experiences.

In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, Gardenia KL said it was aware of the concerns raised about its products and took the reports seriously, adding that it was concerned about the well-being of the consumers and families involved.

It added that the relevant departments were reviewing the available information, production records and quality controls to establish the facts and determine the appropriate course of action, Bernama reported.

Gardenia KL also sought to reassure consumers that there had been no changes to its product recipes or formulations, and that its established food safety and quality control procedures remained in place.

"We are committed to cooperating fully with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in any further investigations, including inspections at our factories," the company said.

Malaysia's Health Ministry investigating complaints

Meanwhile, Malaysia's MOH said in a statement on Sunday that it is awaiting laboratory test results from products collected from complainants and will conduct follow-up inspections at Gardenia's factory to check its compliance with the Food Act 1983.

The ministry is investigating complaints and reports of alleged food poisoning involving Gardenia Original Classic White Bread and Twiggies Choc-A-Lot, but said traceability was limited because the batch numbers and expiry dates provided were incomplete.

The health authority added that the remaining products and their packaging had been collected with the complainants' consent for laboratory analysis.

It added that Gardenia's internal findings could not yet establish the cause of the reported symptoms and said enforcement action would be taken if legal violations or food safety risks were found.

The ministry urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea or discomfort after consuming the suspected products to seek medical attention immediately and report the matter to their nearest District Health Office.

It also advised the public against speculation that could cause confusion.

AsiaOne has contacted Gardenia KL for more information.

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