BPOM Semarang Finds Food Procession Containing Materials For Preservation In Batang Regency

Semarang Food and Drug Supervisory Agency officers together with the Head of Batang Regency conducted a check on food suspected of containing preservatives, Tuesday (4/4/2023). (ANTARA)

The Center for Drug and Food Supervisory (BPOM) of Semarang, Central Java, found a number of processed food products suspected of containing dangerous preservatives, such as formaldehyde, rhodamin, and auramiin sold by traders in Batang Regency.

The Food Pharmacy Supervisor of BPOM Semarang Sukriyah said that during a surprise inspection in a number of areas in Batang Regency, his party found the content of formaldehyde preservatives in rice, dry squid and agar, as well as rhodamin dyes and auramiins in usek and noodles crackers.

"If these dangerous chemicals are consumed by humans, in the long term it will have a negative impact on health, namely toxisity or damage human organs," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 4.

He said preservatives such as formaldehyde should be used to preserve corpses so that if consumed by humans they will enter the digestive tract and damage the organs of the body.

Sebagai tindak lanjut, BPOM Semarang segera berkoordinasi dengan Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Batang untuk melihat langsung proses produksi bahan makanan yakni agar-agar di Kecamatan Warungasem.

His party will provide guidance to traders in order to understand the types of additional food ingredients that are permitted or prohibited by the government.

To the public, he said, to be vigilant about consuming food by paying attention to the safety of the food consumed.

"Physically, it can be seen that food ingredients that contain harmful preservatives tend to be stiffer or smoother, while those that experience a softer texture. Textile-colored foods tend to be brighter than natural dyes," he said.

During the surprise inspection, his party checked 21 food samples, six of which contained dangerous food preservatives, three positive formalins and three positive textile dyes.