Highlighting Sweet Snacks At School, Zulhas Reviews The High Sugar Warning Label In Packaging

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, highlighted the rise of snacks and high- sugar drinks sold around schools.

He said this phenomenon also triggered an increase in cases of sugar disease in Indonesia, including in the age group of children.

"We invited nutritionists to participate in supervising food anywhere. Currently, Indonesia is very high in people who have diabetes, there are even children," he said at a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, November 19.

As a further step, the government is reviewing the implementation of special labels to alert high- sugar content products.

"I'm trying later on how to make the high sugar food included in the label," he said.

In addition, Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that government supervision must also go hand in hand with public education, especially in schools, so that children avoid the risk of sugar disease.

"(Education) now is very necessary, I have said SOS about foods that are high in sugar. High in sugar, in front of schools selling candy with very high sugar, sweet drinks, and even our children have diabetes," he said.

Karena itu, Zulhas mengatakan perlu edukasi menyeluruh dari ahli gizi mengenai makanan yang layak dikonsumsi anak dan mana yang sebaiknya dihindari.

“Mengajak Ahli Gizi untuk melakukan edukasi terhadap makanan-makanan yang anak-anak kita, layak, bagus untuk dikonsumsi dan mana yang perlu dihindari termasuk yang tadi gulanya tinggi itu,” ujarnya.

Kata Zulhas, edukasi di satuan pelayanan pemenuhan gizi (SPPG) atau dapur penyelenggara program Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) juga sangat penting untuk memastikan menu makanan yang diberikan pada anak-anak dalam kategori sehat, dan terhindar dari potensi keracunan pangan.

“Kita juga mengajak tadi untuk terus melakukan juga edukasi di tempat-tempat MBG, sekolah-sekolah, bagaimana makanan yang sehat, agar tidak keracunan,” katanya.

Therefore, Zulhas said that nutritionists need comprehensive education about foods that are suitable for children to consume and which should be avoided.

"Inviting Nutritionists to educate foods that our children deserve, are good for consumption and which ones need to be avoided, including those with high sugar," he said.

Zulhas said, education in the nutritional fulfillment service unit (SPPG) or the kitchen of the organizers of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program is also very important to ensure that the food menus given to children are in the healthy category, and avoid potential food poisoning.

"We also invited earlier to continue to do education in MBG places, schools, how to eat healthy, so as not to be poisoned," he said.