Maxim’s Cakes admits gelatin and animal ingredients cross-contamination during production

Maxim’s Cakes is one of the biggest bakery giants of Hong Kong. You wouldn’t think bread and other bakery items would have any form of animal ingredients. But think again.

Muslim Council of Hong Kong emailed Maxim’s Cakes to enquire about their production process of their mass products.

Here is the email from MCHK:

We thank Maxim’s Cakes for replying back to us so that we know the right from the wrong and the public can take the necessary precaution.

Here is what Maxim’s Cakes replied:

Now after a Muslim reads this, it should be clear that we ought to stay away from these products since impermissible items are being mixed with permissible ones.

If anything, this reply from Maxim’s Cakes creates enough doubt and we know what Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said about doubtful matters:

On the authority Abi Ab’dillahi al-Nu’man ibn Basheer (ra) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:

“That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear and between the two of them are doubtful [or ambiguous] matters about which not many people are knowledgeable.

Thus, he who avoids these doubtful matters certainly clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor. But he who falls into the doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein…”

[Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]