BPOM Ensures Food at East Jakarta Wholesale Markets Safe for Consumption Ahead of Eid
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has ensured that food products circulating at one of the wholesale centres in East Jakarta are safe for public consumption ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026.
“We conduct this oversight activity because during this period the intensity of food sales and consumption among the public increases significantly,” said BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar whilst conducting direct food inspections at Lotte Grosir Pasar Rebo, Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Monday.
This was confirmed following testing of dozens of product samples. Taruna stated that oversight is carried out simultaneously throughout Indonesia every day using two methods: random and covert inspections as well as official direct field examinations.
During the activity, BPOM also conducted rapid testing using a mobile laboratory vehicle on 40 product samples suspected of containing harmful substances such as banned preservatives and colouring agents.
“From the results of today’s inspection of various products, in general they already comply with regulations, meet sanitation requirements, hygiene standards, label standards, packaging, circulation permits, and expiry dates,” explained Taruna.
As a result, all samples tested were declared safe and met the requirements for consumption.
The inspection also involved various parties from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, including DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary Uus Kuswanto.
Uus expressed appreciation for BPOM’s step of conducting direct field inspections to ensure food safety for the public.
“On behalf of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, we welcome this activity. Currently is a vulnerable period because public demand for food items increases ahead of Eid,” said Uus.
Based on checks against approximately 79 food products, all were also declared negative for formaldehyde content.
According to him, inspections of this nature are important in providing the public with confidence in selecting and consuming food products during Ramadan until Eid.
Previously, the Jakarta Major Food and Drug Supervisory Office (BBPOM) identified two food items at a traditional snack centre on Jalan Panjang, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta — specifically steamed sponge cake (kue mangkok) and steamed cake (bolu kukus) — containing textile dye Rhodamine B.
“So out of 65 total samples tested, two contained Rhodamine. These were steamed sponge cake and steamed cake,” said Head of Jakarta Major BBPOM Sofiyani Chandrawati to journalists at the location on Thursday (5 March).
Sofiyani stated that the merchandise of the traders in question was immediately removed after testing confirmed it contained harmful chemicals.
“So these have already been ‘taken out’ from the display for destruction,” said Sofiyani.
Furthermore, her office would trace the distribution chain of these snack items to identify the main supplier.
“We will certainly trace further where the seller and wholesale trader are. The aim is to cut off the distribution chain,” said Sofiyani.