Authorities Found Formaldehyde-laced Tofu and Vegetables in West
18 March 2016 14:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-West Jakarta's Agency for Agriculture and Food Security and the Jakarta Police conducted a lab test on several food samples of Jembatan Dua Market in Tambora, West Jakarta on Friday, March 18, 2016.
The Head of the Agency for Agriculture and Food Security, Renova Ida Siahaan, explained that several food items were tested, including fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, tofu and other fresh and processed foods. "Out of the 64 samples that we took, we found tofu and vegetables that had been treated with formaldehyde," she said.
Tofu that has been treated with formaldehyde is jelly-like in texture and breaks less easily than ordinary tofu. The vendor, whose tofu tested positive, claims that he did not know that the tofu he's been selling had been treated with formaldehyde.
Following the tests, Renova said, vendors who are known to have sold chemically-treated produces will be given a sticker to differentiate their stalls. "We will also confiscate their goods, as these are required by Jakarta Police in order for them to pursue more actions," she said.
The Agency is also sweeping several markets other than Jembatan Dua - including Jembatan Besi, Jembatan Lima, Kedoya Utara, and Pos Pengumben. Renova said that by the end of this month, her staff of sixty people aims to sweep at least 20 markets across West Jakarta. "We have also asked the Head of each market to ensure that blacklisted vendors does not remove the stickers from their stalls," said Renova.
REZKI ALVIONITASARI