TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bali Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) head, I Gusti Ayu Adhi Aryapatni, said that the resort island ranked fourth in Indonesia in the use of hazardous substances on foods. Adhi made the statement during a commemoration event of World Food Safety on Sunday, June 30.

A chemical commonly used by Balinese people was Rhodamin B, a red colorant in textiles that was unsafe if used on foods.

Adhi explained such misuse cases in the province was pretty high, and so the regional BPOM intensively educate the public. “We are supported by the provincial administration, regency administration, and city administration as well as the public."

Bali provincial administration supported the regional BPOM by issuing Gubernatorial Decree concerning the misuse of dangerous substances on foods. An integrated coordination team overseeing food safety had been established as well.

Denpasar BPOM in tandem with Bali Family Welfare Development Unit and universities actively educated organizations and communities in villages.

The team had also issued a circular letter to vendors and traders in which barring them from selling hazardous substances. “We will run monitoring in the next few months. If they still sell foods containing harmful chemicals, we will impose sanctions,” Adhi asserted.

He hoped the issue on the misuse of dangerous ingredients could be resolved by this year. Adhi also appealed to all parties, including the government, academicians, public, businesses, and the media to have a responsibility towards food safety.

TERAS.ID

Read: Ubud Eyeing to Become UNWTO's Global Gastronomy Destination