MUI Clarifies Ban on Christmas Greetings by Tous Les Jours

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Research Institute of Food, Drug, and Cosmetics (LPPOM) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has spoken up about the viral photo and video on the restriction of Christmas greetings on cakes by Tous Les Jours.

LPPOM MUI deputy director, Sumunar Jati, said his agency had never demanded the South Korean bakery chain stores display such a regulation. Moreover, the circular was an ill-advised one.

“[We have] no such rules to be displayed like that, and that is not the right explanation,” said Jati to Tempo, Friday, November 22.

Jati confirmed there were some criteria of products to be licensed halal, including the product naming that must not be against Islamic teachings. 

“But there is no rule about consumers’ request for customization, decorations on the cake for a takeaway,” Jati underlined, adding that stores were allowed to put non-Islamic greetings as long as they were customized cakes and not displayed at the store.

Previously, a 19-second video showing a circular letter displayed at a Tous Les Jours outlet went viral on social media. The letter noted that the bakery store would refuse to write messages on cakes related to religions, such as Christmas and Chinese New Year, as well as Valentine and Halloween on cakes.

The management of Tous Les Jours denied the restriction. “The rules as posted in some videos, photos, and/or other information that have gone viral recently are not the official policy issued by our management,” said the bakery chain management through a photo posted in @touslesjoursid, Friday, November 22.

CAESAR AKBAR | EKO WAHYUDI