Consumer watchdog finds food labels substandard

Consumer watchdog finds food labels substandard

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Perusing the label on packaged foods may be the last resort for
consumers in ensuring the safety of the products, as most labels
only adds to the confusion of exactly what it contains.

A recent study carried out by the Indonesian Consumers
Foundation (YLKI) found that of the 58 food product samples
taken from July to November 2003 from three supermarkets and one
wholesale market in Jakarta, not one was in compliance with
Government Regulation No. 69/1999 on labeling and advertisement
of food products and other related regulations.

The samples were classified under six categories: Snacks, soft
drinks, preserved vegetables/fruit, canned meat/fish,
ketchup/sauces and baby food.

In a public discussion held on Wednesday, YLKI chairwoman
Indah Suksmaningsih said that labels on some of the imported
product samples did not mention local distributors nor provide
reliable information on the expiry date and ingredients. Some did
not even bear the mandatory Ministry of Health registration
number.

"Even when all the required information appeared on the label,
the language used was not Indonesian or used terms difficult for
laymen to understand," she said.

The discussion was attended by officials from the Food and
Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Ministry of Industry and
Trade, the Indonesian Food and Beverages Association (GAPMI) and
other consumer watchdogs.

Commenting on the results of the study, BPOM deputy for food
and hazardous substance control Tien Gartini said using stickers
for expiry dates or for its extension was a legal offense, as the
law requires expiry dates to be printed on packages.

"So far, all producers and distributors have met the
requirements to enter the Indonesian market. But we cannot
monitor the entirety of 57,000 registered products being
distributed nationwide too see whether they continue to abide by
all regulations."

Defending small-scale food and beverage producers whose
products often failed to meet international standards, GAPMI
executive Tri Widodo Susilo blamed the lack of development funds
for the industry and the high costs incurred by market
requirements, including costs for required halal labels to
indicate that a food was fit for consumption under Islamic law.

For detailed information on package labels and related issues,
contact: the YLKI at (021) 79191255 or the BPOM at (021) 4263333.