Health Ministry stops sale of cough syrup ice cream

The Health Ministry has ordered a local ice cream brand to stop selling a product which uses traditional cough syrup as an ingredient.

This was after ice cream chain Inside Scoop this week launched a new flavour made with Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, also known as Ubat Batuk Cap Ibu dan Anak.

The ministry said the ingredient is a regulated drug that may be harmful to pregnant women, while the Food Act 1983 bars mixing such ingredients with other food for sale.

“As such, all premises selling this product are instructed to immediately stop the sale of the product for consumer and public safety.

“Besides that, all advertisements including on e-commerce platforms and social media… must be taken down,” the ministry said.

It also urged the public not to consume food items “unsuitable or unsafe to be eaten”.

Checks by Malaysiakini found Inside Scoop has taken down advertising of the product on most of its social media pages while the flavour is not available for purchase from its website.

It earlier advertised the product as a “soothing ice cream” which features “swirls of creamy vanilla bean ice cream for a perfectly balanced treat”.

In its newsletter on Sunday, Inside Scoop also said the flavour - named after the cough mixture - is “the ultimate twist on a classic remedy that combines soothing herbal notes with creamy indulgence”.

The advertised images of the product show the cough mixture in its recognisable packaging in the background, while the syrup is drizzled onto a scoop of vanilla ice cream like caramel, or added with a syringe.

A popular remedy among Asians, the cough mixture recently gained international attention when British singer Zayn Malik said he often consumed it to take care of his vocal cords.

In a TikTok video, he termed it his “special elixir”.

Chain apologises

Meanwhile, Inside Scoop took to Instagram with an apology to customers.

“Following advice from the Ministry of Health, we are saying goodbye to our Pei Pa Koa ice cream flavour, effective immediately.

“If you’ve ordered this flavour online, don’t worry! Our team will reach out to sort out your refund.

“We’re really sorry for any hassle this might cause and we appreciate your understanding!”

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