Free Nutrition Food Stays Safe: Heat Expands Mobile Lab Cars To Regions

BOGOR The National Food Agency (Bapanas) together with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs carried out food safety checks in the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program in Megamendung, Puncak area, Bogor Regency, Tuesday, June 24 morning.

Badanas also handed over a mobile laboratory car for food safety supervision. This car is equipped with various rapid test equipment that can detect pesticide content, bolax, to formaldehyde in fresh food.

Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi explained that so far there are dozens of mobile laboratory cars that have been operating in a number of provinces. The car functions to randomly check food safety in traditional markets.

"We will give this car to the provincial government, in the future it can also be for districts and cities. This car will tour the markets. We have distributed it in West Java and Central Java," said Arief.

According to him, the testing process using a rapid test kit only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. This inspection is important, especially for strategic products such as fish that are at risk of containing formalins exceeding the threshold.

"Our main goal is to ensure that people, including recipients of the free nutritious eating program, eat safe food," he said.

Arief also revealed that last year there were 17 cars distributed, and until the middle of this year the number has increased to around 30 units. He hopes that the distribution of this mobile laboratory car can be expanded to more areas.

The laboratory car is equipped with reagents, refrigerators, dispensers, and various other test equipment. This tool is capable of detecting harmful content in foodstuffs, so that unsafe food can be immediately prevented from circulating.

"We hope it only takes 15 minutes to know which foods are not worth marketing. There is already a residual threshold standard that must be obeyed," he said.

According to Bapanas records, the results of fresh food supervision throughout 2024 show that of the 13,489 samples tested nationally, 6.43 percent were positive for contamination of hazardous substances such as formaldehyde, bolax, and pesticides exceeding the threshold.

The most findings come from fresh fish products, vegetables, and market snacks. Inspections were carried out randomly in traditional markets, local distribution, and food production centers.

"This shows that supervision must continue to be strengthened, especially in producing areas. Do not let dangerous foods already be widely circulated," said Arief.

He also encouraged regional heads to actively take advantage of this facility by making a routine schedule for mobile market inspections.

"I ask for this car to be used around the market. One day you can visit several markets. This mobility can be controlled by governors, regents, or mayors in each region," he said.