Degenerative diseases threaten children
Degenerative diseases threaten children
JAKARTA (JP): The future of Indonesia will be "horrifying" as
the younger generation will be prone to rampant degenerative
diseases due to the wrong consumption pattern.
Such an expectation is no exaggeration if we look at the
research conducted by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)
last May and June on snacks sold by food vendors in the
vicinities of elementary schools in South Jakarta.
The research showed that the snacks contained food substances
which have even been prohibited by the government because they
could cause degenerative diseases.
"There is no data so far showing that people are getting
degenerative diseases due to consuming snacks from food vendors
but our research has shown that they often contain substances
which give rise to such diseases," YLKI researcher Ilyani
Sudradjat said.
The research showed that 47 percent of the 17 food samples
contained prohibited synthetic colorants, like Rhodamine B, which
in laboratory studies has been shown to cause the growth of
coarse body hair, aggressiveness, nervousness and slow growth,
and Metanil Yellow, a substance known to be a carcinogen.
"Surprisingly, the Indonesian government still gives permit
for the distribution of colorants which have been prohibited in
other countries like Sweden, the United States of America and
even by the World Health Organization. These substances include
Tartrazine, Brilliant Blue, Ponceau 4R and Carmoisine," Ilyani
said.
The foodstuffs' also contained dangerous sweeteners like
Saccharine which was found in 63.6 percent of the samples.
Saccharine can cause cancer in the urinary system. Another
dangerous substance found was Cyclamate which can cause damage to
chromosomes and was found in 27.3 percent of the samples.
The research also showed that 12.5 percent of the food samples
contained borax, which is usually used as a preservative or to
produce a rubbery effect in certain kinds of foodstuff.
"Borax has actually been prohibited in Indonesia because it
can damage the metabolic system and reproductive organs. But the
substance can easily be found in markets," Ilyani added.
In fact, dangerous substances are not only found in "cheap"
snacks but also in those produced by big manufacturers as was
shown by a 1999 survey by the Kakak Foundation on child
consumers. Ilyani said that he problem was mostly due to the lack
of government control.(ind)