YLKI Asks Residents To Beware Of Illegal Food Products From China

Illustration (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) asks the public to be aware of illegal food and beverage products from China which are considered to be able to threaten health.

YLKI researcher Niti Emiliana also appealed to the public to be more thorough in buying food products. One of them is by checking the distribution permit of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to avoid illegal food and beverages.

"Consumers do not need to buy food or drinks that do not have a BPOM distribution permit," Niti said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, August 9.

The appeal was inseparable from the findings of a number of cases caused by illegal food and beverages from China. One of the cases occurred in Sukabumi, West Java in May 2024. A total of six students of SDN Cidadap I, Sukaraja District experienced dizziness, nausea, and vomiting after buying snacks from China branded Hot Spicy Latiru and Latiao Strips.

Similar cases have also occurred in Indragiri Hilir Regency, South Sumatra, where 18 students experienced headaches and bloating after eating snacks in the form of soft candy from China.

For this reason, Niti also advised the public to consume more local products. According to him, the quality of local foods and beverages is much better than foreign products such as China. In fact, in many cases the safety of local food and beverage products is more secure.

"Local products are actually many with good quality," said Niti.

Food and beverage products from China in the last few decades have often received attention. The reason is, the quality and safety of Chinese food products are often problematic.

One of the most recent cooking oil found from China mixed with fuel oil (BBM). This happens because the tanker is not cleaned from fuel while transporting cooking oil to reduce costs.

In May 2024, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) attracted the circulation of imported peanut products made in China branded Xiyuguoyuan Xinjiang Paper Roasted Walnut measuring 500 grams and 1 kilogram (kg).

Products that are withdrawn contain sweeteners made by the address and high-level asesulfam-K beyond the safe limit.

China's biggest food scandal that caused the most uproar was the Chinese milk scandal in 2008.

At that time, many melamin chemicals were found to be contained in various Chinese milk producers.

The case also claimed 300,000 victims, of which 54,000 victims were rushed to hospital and six babies had died from kidney failure.

This also resulted in the low trust of the Chinese people in their dairy products.

For information, the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) cooperates with the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) to form an illegal import task force to anticipate and dispel various illegal import practices including food and dangerous beverages from abroad.

"We ask for support from the AGO to create a team, immediately look to the field. Once found, of course we will submit law enforcement to the Prosecutor's Office, we can't afford it, so that we can reduce this illegal entry item to protect the industry," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan some time ago.

He hopes that the task force can be formed soon.

According to him, currently imports of illegal products entering Indonesia have entered a dangerous level.