Bandung noodles contain formaldehyde: Survey<\/p>\n
Yuli Trisuwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
Noodles sold in traditional markets in the West Java capital of
\nBandung contains formaldehyde, a banned preservative substance
\nfor food, a recent study shows.<\/p>\n
And in a shocking admission, the West Java Food and Medicine
\nControlling Board (BPOM) says it has known that two-thirds of
\nnoodles sold contain the deadly substance but is powerless to do
\nanything about it.<\/p>\n
The survey, conducted by Pasundan University student Mutia
\nSoftie as part of her bachelor degree in food engineering, found
\nthat 60 samples of wet noodle taken from 31 traditional markets
\ncontained between 10.3 parts per million (ppm) and 117.7 ppm of
\nformaldehyde.<\/p>\n
Mutia told a media conference on Wednesday that the survey was
\nconducted between November and December. The results of the
\nlaboratory tests were verified by her mentor Leni Herliani
\nAfrianti.<\/p>\n
Formaldehyde, CH20, is a colorless, pungent, irritating gas
\nused chiefly as a disinfectant, a preservative and to synthesize
\nother compounds and resins.<\/p>\n
The BPOM has long banned the use of the substance for food
\npreservative.<\/p>\n
Leni, who was present at the conference, said the research was
\nscientifically reliable.<\/p>\n
Formaldehyde helps preserve noodles, a staple food for
\nIndonesians, for up to one week, while normal wet noodles will
\nexpire after two days.<\/p>\n
\"Despite its pungent smell, formaldehyde easily dissolves in
\nwater, so that people find it difficult to detect the presence of
\nthe dangerous substance in the noodles they eat,\" Leni said.<\/p>\n
Persistent intake of formaldehyde harms the liver and red
\nblood cells. In the short term it could lead to stomach aches and
\nvomiting, while in the long run it could devastate nerve system
\nor blood distribution.<\/p>\n
Pasundan University had called on BPOM to take action and stop
\nthe sale of wet noodles, which could reach dozens of tons per
\nday, she said.<\/p>\n
\"That's what we have found, not to mention other preservatives
\nand coloring substances,\" Leni said.<\/p>\n
BPOM's official in charge of food control, Euis Megawati, said
\nthe agency had detected the use of formaldehyde in 22 of 33
\nbrands of noodle during its latest survey in 2001.<\/p>\n
\"But what else we can do? The local food and medicine
\ncontrolling body has no power to close down the noodle producers.
\nOur responsibility is to report our findings to Jakarta or seize
\nthe product on sight. But the rest is not our business,\" Eusi
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bandung-noodles-contain-formaldehyde-survey-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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