YLKI demands government's action on bad pudding<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior consumer protection advocate called on
\nthe government on Friday to inspect the distribution and sales of
\nsome imported chocolate pudding suspected to have poisoned more
\nthan 30 children in the past few days.<\/p>\n
Tini Hadad, the former chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers
\nAssociation (YLKI), said anybody distributing or selling the
\npudding should be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
\"The association will meet with the Ministry of Health's
\nDirector General for Drug and Food Control Sampurno next week to
\ndiscuss the matter.<\/p>\n
\"We'll push the director general to inspect all supermarkets,
\ntraditional markets, shops and kiosks soon to ascertain all the
\npudding was withdrawn,\" she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She said it was surprising to find the product, which had
\nexpired in May last year according to media reports, still being
\nsold to the public.<\/p>\n
Tini said there was a possibility that certain people took
\nadvantage of selling the expired product as it sold at a cheaper
\nprice.<\/p>\n
\"Such an import is usually expensive,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tini said those involved in the food distribution could be
\ncharged.<\/p>\n
She suggested that the Ministry of Health and the Directorate
\nGeneral of Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry should empower food vendors, especially those operating
\nat schools, to only sell health and registered food.<\/p>\n
Thirty-one students at a state elementary school in Central
\nJakarta were rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for
\ntreatment of suspected food poisoning after they ate imported
\nchocolate pudding sold near the school yard.<\/p>\n
A physician at the hospital's emergency unit, Abdul Latief,
\nsaid the children suffered dehydration following constant
\nvomiting.<\/p>\n
The children bought the puddings packaged in small brown
\nplastic containers with the brand Elle Vire and a picture of the
\nEiffel tower on the label with \"Made in France\" written below.
\nThey paid Rp 300 (7 US cents) per container from a man, who was
\nnot seen before in the area.<\/p>\n
There was no expiry date nor government registration number on
\nthe pudding package. It is compulsory for the date and number to
\nbe printed on every imported food item that enters the country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a government decree, issued last June, stipulated
\nimported food from France, the Netherlands and Germany was to
\nhave a dioxin-free certificate with it before entering the
\ncountry following the decision to ban imported food from Belgium.<\/p>\n
Sampurno was not available for comment on Friday. His
\nsecretary, Lis, said he was at a staff meeting. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylki-demands-governments-action-on-bad-pudding-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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