Report: 60% of Tofu Sold in South Tangerang Contains Formalin
15 December 2013 10:32 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Serpong - South Tangerang residents who love tofu must now be alert since the bean-made food mostly contain formalin. "Sixty percent of tofu sold in traditional markets in South Tangerang contains formalin," said Heru Sudarmanto, Head of Supervision Division of Tangerang Trade and Industry Agency yesterday.
The finding was revealed from a clinical test done by a joint team of officials from the Health Agency and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), by inspecting tofu producers and traders at several traditional markets in South Tangerang.
Heru said traders will not want to lose profits so they resorted to using formalin to 'preserve' the tofu. Ones that are not stored in fridge will easily turn sour and won't sell well, he said.
Most traders use formalin at the tofu produced in factories. When their tofu are unsold, they use formalin to preserve them and sell in the following day, said Hery.
MUHAMMAD KURNIANTO
