Refined Sugar Allegedly Circulating Freely, Situbondo Sidak Food Task Force To Modern Stores To Distributors

Deputy Regent of Situbondo Ulfiyah and Commission II of the Situbondo DPRD inspected refined sugar at modern stores in Situbondo, East Java. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Refined sugar is again in the spotlight in Situbondo Regency, East Java. The Food Task Force team together with a number of related parties held unannounced inspections of traditional markets, modern shops, and distributor warehouses to ensure that these products did not circulate into the hands of consumers.

This step is taken as a form of supervision in accordance with the provisions in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 1 of 2019 Jo Permendag Number 17 of 2022 which strictly regulates the distribution of refined sugar.

"Sudden inspection with Commission II of the DPRD, TNI/Polri and PG Pandjie is to prove that this refined sugar really exists (circulating in the market)," said Deputy Regent Situbondo Ulfiyah on the sidelines of a surprise inspection at a modern shop on Diponegoro Street, Situbondo Regency, Friday.

In this activity, the Food Task Force found allegations of circulation of refined sugar packaged in sachet beverage products and sold freely in several shops and supermarkets.

Based on these findings, Deputy Regent Ulfiyah said that his party would immediately follow up by writing to the provincial government and the central government.

"We from the regional government and Commission II of the DPRD will jointly send a letter to the central government regarding these findings," said Ulfiyah.

Chairman of Commission II of the Situbondo Regency DPRD, Jainur Ridho, also added that his party found a similar product in one of the distributors in Mimbaan Village, Panji District.

"There is a packaging of one kilogram that we found suspected of being refined sugar in the warehouse of one of the distributors, we will immediately have a joint meeting regarding these findings," he said.