Energy drinks debate continues

JAKARTA (JP): Controversy continues to rage over an official order to remove certain energy drinks from store shelves, with one producer insisting its over-the-counter products meet regulations.

The Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) ordered PT Asia Health Energi Beverages, the producer of Kratingdaeng, Kratingdaeng S and Galin Bugar and the importer of M 150 drinks, to withdraw the products.

The order was given because the agency determined that each bottle of drink contained 80 milligrams of caffeine, far exceeding the acceptable 50 mg stated on the label. The labels have no health warning of the impact of consuming drinks with a caffeine content exceeding the acceptable limit.

Trisno Winata, an executive of PT Asia Health Energi Beverages, admitted on Saturday that his company had disregarded quality control regulations on several of its products.

Trisno apologized to consumers and promised to intensify the company's quality control system to avoid a similar incident from happening again.

The company, a subsidiary of PT Asia Sejahtera Perdana Pharmaceutical, claims that the products under the spotlight are Kratingdaeng drinks that have bar codes between 373Q and 189T and Kratingdaeng S with bar codes between 001A and 056A.

The products in question, which amount to two million bottles, are being withdrawn from the market but other products will remain on sale, Trisno said.

Trisna's statement raised eyebrows because days earlier the company refused to apology, arguing that its products met acceptable standards.

The company claimed M 150, which it imports, would also be recalled.

BPOM chairman Sampurno said that his agency had given the company two months from Aug. 16 to withdraw the drinks from store shelves and appealed to the media to temporarily stop running ads for the products.

Despite the appeal advertisements for the products continue to appear on TV.

BPOM secretary Mawarwati said on Monday that the agency had not taken any firm action against the company.

"We're still evaluating the withdrawal process," the agency's media officer, Yunida, quoted Mawarwati as saying.

Apparently not everyone is aware of the controversy.

Rudi, an employee at a private company, said he had no complaint against the energy drinks and had no idea whether he had ever drank an energy drink that had a dangerously high caffeine content.

"I still drink Kratingdaeng at least once a day," he said after buying one bottle of Kratingdaeng at a kiosk in Central Jakarta.

The kiosk owner, who identified himself only as Babeh (father in the Betawi language), said his sales of Kratingdaeng had slightly decreased, but people were still buying it.

"The agent keeps delivering the products," he said.

Jakarta Military Command personnel continue to drink it in great quantities to maintain stamina.

"I regret the withdrawal. But never mind, I may keep drinking it," chief of the Tanjung Priok main naval base, Commodore Djuhana Suwarna, said on the sidelines of a weekend visit by military chief Adm. Widodo A.S. to the command.

On the occasion, some sailors were found carrying boxes of Kratingdaeng energy drinks into a room. When asked whether they knew the product had been deemed unsafe to consume, they replied: "Who cares? We keep drinking it."

Meanwhile, consumer observer Agus Pambagio said he suspected trade competition could be at play in the issue due to the conflicting statements made by BPOM and the producer.

"BPOM should give preliminary warnings to companies before disclosing cases to the public as it should be very careful in controlling businesses without killing them," he said on Monday.

Agus, who is a former vice chairman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), urged BPOM to establish a firmer policy to prevent companies from deceiving consumers.

Meanwhile, RCTI public relations coordinator Iksan Murdjadi said Kratingdaeng was still being advertised by the station because there had been no request from the placement agency to stop screening the commercial.

"We work based on orders. If we stop airing the advertisement while we still have a contract, we could be sued," Iksan said.

Budi Dharmawan, a public relations manager of SCTV TV station, said the advertisement was still being aired because not all Kratingdaeng products had been withdrawn from the market.

"What has been withdrawn from the market is Kratingdaeng 80 milligram, while other products have not," he said. (tso/bby)