Formaldehyde in food causes grave concern in Lampung

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

A recent report by the Food and Drug Supervision Agency's office in Bandarlampung, Lampung, confirmed people's long-held fears that the salt fish, fresh fish, tofu and noodles sold in traditional markets contained formaldehyde.

Based on a recent study its conducted in the province's eight regencies and two municipalities, the agency found that in Bandarlampung alone, formaldehyde-contaminated foodstuffs were being sold by traders in all seven of the city's traditional markets -- Smep, Tugu, Tamin, Kangkung, Bambukuning, Panjang and Pasang Wayhalim.

The use of formaldehyde in food was also confirmed in traditional markets in Metro city as well as in South Lampung, West Lampung, East Lampung, Way Kanan, Tanggamus and Tulangbawang regencies.

Formaldehyde was also found in food in two of Bandarlampung's supermarkets and the Gudang Lelang fish market in Pasaran island.

Based on its tests on 162 food samples, 64 were found to contain formaldehyde.

Of the 93 samples of seafood -- fresh fish, shrimp, squid, boiled mussels, salt fish and squid, and small shrimps -- 34 of them contained formaldehyde, of the 46 samples of tofu, 16 contained formaldehyde, and of the 23 samples of fresh noodles, 14 contained formaldehyde.

The agency's head, Sri Utami Ekaningtyas, said her office was only responsible for conducting the laboratory tests while the next steps -- the withdrawal of all the products and the taking of legal action -- was the responsibility of the Fisheries Office and the police.

"I hope the Fisheries Office will put a halt to this practice by teaching fishermen and traders not to use formaldehyde to make their fish and food products last longer as the use of formaldehyde endangers people's health," Sri said on Wednesday.

She warned that formaldehyde was a very hazardous substance and was carcinogenic in nature. Long-term consumption could cause cancer and irritate the digestive system.

"The use of formaldehyde violates Law No. 7/1996 and Government Regulation No. 28/2004 on food safety and quality. Formaldehyde is being used by the textile, plastic, paper, paint and construction industries, and to preserve dead bodies," Sri said.

She added that food contaminated by formaldehyde could only be rendered safe by thorough washing and submersion in hot water of 80 degrees Celcius for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Lampung councillor Ahmad Jajuli criticized the agency for naming products containing formaldehyde despite the lack of concrete action against the traders

"There should be serious and concrete action by the administration to protect the people. In reality, the agency has repeatedly tested food samples but no action has been taken in respect of its findings," Ahmad said.

He pointed out that the tests were not the first to reveal the use of formaldehyde in food products. "The Fisheries Office should teach people about the consequences of consuming food that contains formaldehyde and provide them with knowledge about how a product contains formaldehyde or not," Ahmad said.

The agency's latest findings have worried traders in several traditional markets, as well as hundreds of salt-fish producers in Bandarlampung.

Marsiyah, a 38-year-old salt-fish trader in Smep market, blamed a lack of business over the last two weeks on rumors about the use of formaldehyde.

"Now, my business could get even worse following the agency's announcement. But I'll stay in this business for a while longer as I don't have enough money to switch to another trade," she said.

Many salt-fish producers on Pasaran island, a few kilometers away from Bandarlampung, have been forced to stop production due to a lack of demand following the rumors of formaldehyde contamination, followed by confirmation of this by the Food and Drug Supervision Agency.

"Demand is very low following the formaldehyde rumors although I don't use it to preserve the fish," said Rusdi, 37, a salt-fish producer on Pasaran island.

The director of Bandarlampung's Fisheries Office, Maryono, said his office would immediately conduct operations in the markets to ensure that all formaldehyde-contaminated food was removed.

He also said his office would take strict action against traders who were found selling food containing formaldehyde. However, he failed to provide details about what action would be taken.