BBPOM DKI reminds public of dangerous substances in iftar foods

The Head of the Jakarta Food and Drug Authority (BBPOM DKI), Sofiyani Chandrawati, cautioned the public about dangerous substances in takjil (traditional iftar foods) at a press briefing in Central Jakarta on Friday.

She explained that food colouring, particularly when exposed to heat, tends to fade. She also noted that tofu contaminated with formalin typically becomes hard when pressed and can cause eye irritation upon exposure.

“When you press tofu and it feels soft, it usually doesn’t contain formalin. If it does contain formalin, you can smell it immediately, and it can even cause eye irritation and nausea,” Sofiyani stated.

Sofiyani said BBPOM DKI has been educating consumers to select safe foods without harmful substances. “Remember to check the packaging, label, distribution permit, and expiry date,” she advised.

On Thursday (26 February), BBPOM DKI inspected 27 takjil samples at the Bendungan Hilir Iftar Centre in Central Jakarta and found one steam sponge cake suspected of containing textile dye. The cake was confiscated and the vendor was educated about identifying and selecting foods free from harmful substances such as rhodamin B and methanyl yellow.

Methanyl yellow is a synthetic yellow-brown dye in solid or powder form, commonly used for fabric and paint colouring. Both rhodamin B and methanyl yellow pose health risks by causing digestive tract irritation, liver dysfunction, bladder damage, and cancer.

Sofiyani emphasised that BBPOM DKI continues monitoring takjil food safety throughout Ramadhan to ensure products are safe for consumption at sunset breaking of the fast. According to 2025 surveillance data from iftar centres and modern retailers, BBPOM DKI tested 147 samples, with six (4.1 per cent) failing safety standards and 141 (95.9 per cent) meeting consumption requirements.