Jakarta Food and Drug Authority to Conduct Ramadan Street Food Surveillance
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Jakarta Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BBPOM) will conduct surveillance of takjil — snacks traditionally sold for breaking the fast — throughout the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah/2026, continuing its practice from previous years.
"We are still finalising the schedule," said Jakarta BBPOM head Sofiyani Chandrawati when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.
Last year, during food surveillance operations at the Bendungan Hilir takjil market in Central Jakarta and Rawamangun in East Jakarta, the agency discovered takjil contaminated with formaldehyde and rhodamine B.
Both are hazardous substances. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic, and is prohibited in food as it can cause irritation, poisoning and cancer. Rhodamine B is likewise toxic and dangerous if consumed, yet is frequently misused as a food colouring agent.
At Bendungan Hilir, one out of 25 food samples was found to contain synthetic dye. In Rawamangun, yellow noodles and stuffed fried tofu were found to contain formaldehyde out of 19 samples tested.
Ahead of this year's Ramadan, the Jakarta BBPOM has intensified its surveillance of processed foods, targeting supermarkets, distributors, importers and other food distribution channels. "We have already started from 18 February 2026," Sofiyani said.
"We are still finalising the schedule," said Jakarta BBPOM head Sofiyani Chandrawati when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.
Last year, during food surveillance operations at the Bendungan Hilir takjil market in Central Jakarta and Rawamangun in East Jakarta, the agency discovered takjil contaminated with formaldehyde and rhodamine B.
Both are hazardous substances. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic, and is prohibited in food as it can cause irritation, poisoning and cancer. Rhodamine B is likewise toxic and dangerous if consumed, yet is frequently misused as a food colouring agent.
At Bendungan Hilir, one out of 25 food samples was found to contain synthetic dye. In Rawamangun, yellow noodles and stuffed fried tofu were found to contain formaldehyde out of 19 samples tested.
Ahead of this year's Ramadan, the Jakarta BBPOM has intensified its surveillance of processed foods, targeting supermarkets, distributors, importers and other food distribution channels. "We have already started from 18 February 2026," Sofiyani said.