Hundreds Of Products Damaged And Expenditure In Pangkalpinang, Let's Be Smarter Consumers

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Pangkalpinang Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) found hundreds of damaged products and passed a distribution period while intensifying the supervision of processed foods to 19 retail and non-retail facilities on Bangka Island.

"We found hundreds of damaged and expired products during the intensification of processed food surveillance in the context of Christmas and New Year celebrations," said Head of BPOM Pangkalpinang, Sofiyani Chandrawati in Pangkalpinang, Tuesday, December 27, as reported by Antara.

BPOM Pangkalpinang has intensified the supervision of processed food in five stages which will be carried out from December 1, 2022 to January 4, 2023, and so far it has reached phase three with a target of 19 facilities.

In this intensification activity, BPOM's target of monitoring is prioritized on processed food products without distribution permits, expiration date and damage, such as cans of support, highlighting, and others located in food distribution facilities from upstream to downstream, namely distributors, supermarkets, mini markets, shops, traditional markets, manufacturers or sellers of parcels.

Until the third stage of supervision, BPOM Pangkalpinang has conducted research on 19 food distribution facilities in cities and districts throughout Bangka Island.

"From this activity, we still find that processed food products with damaged and expired packaging that have not been separated from selling-worthy products," he said.

Based on the results of monitoring intensification up to stage three, of the 19 facilities supervised, 31 items or 293 expired products or 35 items or 127 damaged products were found.

With these findings, BPOM Pangkalpinang urges business actors who distribute or trade processed foods to ensure product safety and quality.

"We also hope that people can become smart consumers who always apply Cek KLIK every time they buy processed food products," he said.

BPOM Pangkalpinang urges the public to be smart when buying products, always check packaging, ensure that food packaging is in good condition, pay attention to food labels, ensure that food products are selected according to what is expected.

The public can also ensure that food products purchased have a distribution permit from BPOM in the form of MD or ML followed by 12 numbers behind it and processed food products purchased have not passed the expiration date.

BPOM will continue to oversee food security and protect public health, as well as continue to provide assistance to MSME players by socializing information and education communication (KIE) to the community by collaborating across related sectors.

He hopes that the public will play an active role in providing information regarding the findings of processed food products without distribution permits, expiration or damage to the POM Center in Pangkalpinang via 08117821666 (WA/SMS) or to Instagram: @bpom.pangkalpinang Twitter @BPOMBabel.