Bapanas chief calls for testing of fortified rice's nutritional content

Jakarta, ANTARA — The Head of the National Food Agency and Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has instructed laboratories to test the nutritional content of fortified rice to ensure products on the market meet government standards and do not harm the public. In a press conference on food issues in Jakarta on Tuesday, Amran said he had instructed his colleagues at Bapanas to carry out checks on the rice. “Please check. If possible, take samples, 100 to 200. The people will be tired of us if we only engage in image-building, you know,” Amran said. The government is moving to curb the circulation of rice marketed as fortified rice at special prices. This step was prompted by a shift in producers’ business models toward fortified rice production rather than premium rice. Fortified rice is a type of parboiled rice that has had fortified kernels added to achieve a specific nutritional composition. Fortified rice must meet the government’s stated nutritional requirements, including vitamin B1, folic acid, B12, iron, and zinc. In Bapanas’ April monitoring, fortified rice prices were found to reach up to Rp27,000 per kilogram in the Jakarta region. Several fortified rice samples were found to contain only two of the nutrients listed on the packaging label. Therefore, Amran issued instructions for intensive checks on fortified rice, requesting laboratory tests to verify the claims of nutrient content as stated on the packaging label. “Done, the fortified rice must be checked. Do not use tricks. As in the past there were cases where this was not true. Please check in the lab; the Deputy (Bapanas) should check (in) the lab. Thus, from premium, because we have limited (HET allegedly by producers), it has shifted to this (fortified rice),” Amran asserted. Amran hopes the price of fortified rice can be on a par with the premium rice’s price. The government has set the premium rice High Retail Price (HET) range at Rp14,900 to Rp15,800 per kilogram according to regional zoning. “This is temporary; the fortified rice price should be the same as premium for now. But this must be decided by Rakortas (Coordinating Ministry for Food),” Amran said. “But now we can take steps to check the field. Whether what he said is true. Re-check all those who increased prices,” he added. Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation at Bapanas I Gusti Ketut Astawa explained that price controls on fortified rice are necessary so it is not released freely. The public should access fortified rice at a fair price and not be excessively high. “If we no longer allow fortified rice at high prices, it will gradually fall, so the average becomes good. So don’t release it. Just let fortified rice be priced at premium rice, so the price will fall by itself,” Ketut said. Fortified rice must meet type and nutrient content requirements in accordance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 9372:2025. The SNI requires: per 100 grams of fortified rice, vitamin B1 at least 0.25 milligrams, folic acid 0.25–0.38 milligrams, vitamin B12 1.0–1.5 micrograms, iron 3.50–5.25 milligrams, and zinc 3.0–4.5 milligrams. Fortified rice producers must also obtain a distribution permit for Plant-Origin Fresh Food (PSAT) overseen by Bapanas along with the Regional Competent Authority for Food Safety (OKKPD). Bapanas says the permit process is free of charge and does not take long. Next, the domestic fortified rice distribution permit is issued by the Governor via the provincial Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services (DPMPTSP) after verification by the provincial-level department responsible for food affairs acting as OKKPD. To ensure compliance with safety, quality, and nutritional content standards, fortfied rice must be tested in accredited laboratories. Ketut also urged Bulog to address shortages of rice in modern retail because the state-owned food company holds premium rice.