Caught in the act, big producer finally admits MSG in snack<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The producer of popular snacks Smax and Double Decker admitted on
\nFriday that it had started putting monosodium glutamate (MSG) in
\nits products recently and that it had not stated the MSG content
\non the packs for technical reasons.<\/p>\n
Oetje Palar, personal assistant to the general manager of PT
\nPacific Food Indonesia, which produces Smax and Double Decker,
\nsaid that products whose packs did not mention MSG indicator were
\nold stock and would soon be replaced with new ones.<\/p>\n
\"We will soon be distributing the new packs with the new
\nlabels after the old stock that is now on the market has been
\nsold,\" Oetje said without saying when the new packs would appear
\non the shelves.<\/p>\n
Oetje, however, was unsure whether the new labels would state
\nthe actual amount of MSC in the snacks, saying he would have to
\nquery this with the parent company in Malaysia first.<\/p>\n
Smax and Double Decker are two of 13 brands of snacks found to
\ncontain MSG by the Public Interest Research and Advocacy Center
\n(PIRAC).<\/p>\n
The other brands were Taro Snack, Golden Corn, Jetz, Twistko,
\nGemez, Happytos Tortilla Chips, Chiki, Chitato, Cheetos, Anak
\nMas, and Twistee Corn. The producers of these snacks were not
\navailable for comment on Friday.<\/p>\n
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in a variety of foods, and is
\nsold as a fine white crystal substance. Chemically, MSG is the
\nsodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid.<\/p>\n
Seven snacks were found not to identify their MSG content on
\nthe packs at all, four items referred to \"seasoning\" or \"food
\nenhancer\" but did not say that this was actually MSG, while two
\nothers referred to MSG on their packs but do state the amount.<\/p>\n
Article 8 of the consumer protection law clearly states that a
\nproducer should not conceal the ingredients used in the foods
\nthey produce.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, article 3 and 19 of the decree on food labeling and
\nadvertising requires that the ingredients of a food product be
\nstated on the label.<\/p>\n
Some studies show that people can react adversely to MSG and
\ndevelop an MSG complex, as well suffering allergic reactions,
\nnausea, headaches, migraines, asthma, and heart and neurological
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The neurological problems can be particularly dangerous for
\ngrowing children as their brain and memory capacities could be
\naffected.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets a maximum
\ndaily intake of MSG of five milligrams per day. However, on
\naverage Americans still consume about 11 milligrams of MSG per
\nday.<\/p>\n
There are no particular suggestions as to the maximum MSG
\ndaily intake, or regulations on the maximum amount of MSG allowed
\nin foodstuffs in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
PIRAC is now urging the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency
\n(BPOM), to set a maximum limit of monosodium glutamate (MSG)
\nsubstance in snacks as the ingredient might threat health,
\nparticularly children.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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