TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Wednesday last week, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) announced a number of sardine and mackerel brands contaminated by worms that reached 27 brands, consisting of 16 imported products and 11 local products. Head of BPOM Penny Lukito said his agency would withdraw the circulation of all products of the brands.

In order to avoid unsafe canned food, before buying it, you should do these following things:

1. Check the Packaging

Many consumers ignore the packaging of the canned food they purchased.

2. Check the production labels and expiration dates

The average lifetime of a canned product reaches two years after production. You should avoid buying products that are already close to expiration date.

3. Check the composition and nutritional content of the product

It is important to read the composition of the canned food. Consumers should be wary of contaminated materials and brands such as those released by BPOM.

4. Storage temperature

Some foods have to be stored at low temperatures, but some are preserved at room temperature. Check the storage recommendations on the packaging.

5. Packaging condition

Avoid buying products with damaged cans or damaged seals. Also, check every corner of the packaging, avoid any leaks, rust, or scratches on the product.

DEWI NURITA | PRAGA UTAMA