A TRAGIC incident involving a 10-year-old boy’s death after choking on a gummy candy has shocked the nation, less than a week into the 2025/2026 school year.
The boy, identified as Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin, passed away in Penang on Thursday after choking on a chewy candy.
The incident occurred despite the existence of regulations designed to protect children from food-related hazards, such as the Guidelines on Enforcement of the Ban on Food and Beverage Sales Outside School Gates (Second Edition 2021), which have been in effect since 2012.
Bernama reported that the guidelines prohibit food vendors from selling items within a 40-meter radius of school perimeters, including stationary, mobile, and temporary sellers.
However, despite such regulations, tragic events involving risky foods like gummy candies and konjac jelly continue to happen.
Experts and organisations are now urging for stronger enforcement of existing laws and emphasising the need for public education and awareness on the dangers of certain foods, especially for children.
The Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) has joined the call, stressing the importance of monitoring children's food choices.
A Call for Greater Awareness
MPA president Associate Professor Dr. Mohamad Ikram Ilias, commenting on the death of Mohammad Fahmi, urged parents to be vigilant in overseeing their children’s snacks.
He pointed out that chewy candies, such as gummies, pose significant choking risks, particularly for young children.
“Parents and guardians should closely monitor the food they provide to their children, making sure it is safe and age-appropriate,” Dr. Ikram stated in a Bernama exclusive report today.
He also stressed that it is essential for schools and vendors near school areas to ensure the safety of food sold to children.
According to Dr. Ikram, choking risks are not confined to candy but extend to fruits with seeds, such as longan, grapes, and cherries, as well as nuts.
Precautionary Measures and Emergency Preparedness
Dr. Ikram recommended several steps that parents and caregivers can take to minimize the risk of choking.
These include cutting food into small pieces, removing seeds from fruits, and ensuring children eat while sitting rather than while running or playing.
Additionally, he encouraged teaching children proper eating habits, such as chewing food slowly, and suggested that parents and guardians learn life-saving techniques, like the Heimlich maneuver, in case of an emergency.
Stricter Regulations on Children’s Snacks
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) also voiced concerns about the safety and nutritional quality of snacks marketed to children. CAP education officer N.V. Subbarow called for stricter regulations to ensure that the food children consume is both safe and nutritious.
He pointed out that children are often unaware of the quality or ingredients in the snacks they consume, being drawn instead to brightly-colored and sweet treats.
"Given that children are attracted to sugary snacks with artificial colors, it is important that the Ministry of Health (MOH) regulates the products available in the market and ensures that all snacks for children carry official health certifications," Subbarow said.
A survey conducted by CAP found that over 200 snacks targeted at children contain excessive sugar and artificial colors, which are not suitable for young consumers.
Local Authorities Responding to Food Safety Concerns
In Penang, local authorities are already working closely with schools to monitor food vendors operating near school grounds.
H'ng Mooi Lye, chairman of the Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee, assured that authorities would take swift action against any unlicensed vendors.
He mentioned that enforcement officers conduct regular patrols to ensure compliance with the regulations, issuing notices or confiscating items from non-compliant vendors.
“If we receive complaints about food sales near school gates, we respond promptly to address the issue,” he said.
A Heartbreaking Tragedy
Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz, a Year Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua in Butterworth, had reportedly purchased two pieces of gummy candy before attending his Quran and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) classes around 2:30 PM.
He was found in critical condition after choking on the candy and passed away while receiving treatment at Penang Hospital on Thursday.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that gummy candies shaped like eyeballs, which were linked to the incident, would be banned from all online platforms and the domestic market.
The product was found to violate food labelling regulations outlined in the Food Regulations 1985 and the Food Act 1983.
This heart-wrenching incident has sparked a renewed call for more stringent regulations and increased awareness regarding the safety of children’s food, ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future. - February 22, 2025
