Pauline Hanson has urged her followers to avoid brands like Cadbury and instead opt for ‘non-halal’ certified chocolates this Easter.
Hanson’s message came in a video posted to her Facebook page, in which she promoted Lindt and Darrell Lea as non-halal alternatives.
“If you want to actually support these companies, do it,” she said.
“Go and buy some non-halal Easter eggs and chocolate – and have a happy Easter everyone, and a very safe one.”
Halal certification involves use of a licensed marker to indicate that a food is approved for consumption under Islamic religious rules.
In confectionary products, colouring and other additives derived from insects, or gelatin derived from other animals, can violate Islamic dietary rules.
One Nation says the fee for certification amounts to an ‘Islamic tax’ and has raised concern that licensing fees are used to finance terrorism – although a 2015 Senate committee found there was no substance to such concerns.
One Nation’s anti-halal policy specifically singles out Cadbury on the political party’s website.
“Australian icon Cadbury paid to have the Halal certification on their Easter product range in 2014, even though Easter is a Christian celebration and nothing to do with Islam,” the party states.
Cadbury Australia lists a significant range of Halal certified products, including bars, blocks and snacks, as well as seasonal Easter and Christmas items.
SBS has sought comment from the chocolate giant – other companies have said that certification schemes are vital for exporting their products to international markets.
Cadbury has recently been under fire after social media reports that they have removed the word ‘Easter’ from their products and seasonal marketing campaign – but as the company has been at pains to point out, there’s no truth to the reports.
One Nation’s anti-Islam policies include holding Royal Commission into Islam, halting all Muslim immigration, banning the Burqa and Niqab in public places and having surveillance cameras installed in Mosques.
