Takjil Containing Textile Dye Also Found in Rawamangun, East Jakarta

East Jakarta’s City Government (Pemkot) and the Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BBPOM) Jakarta have also found a textile dye in one type of takjil at Pasar Rawamangun. ‘We found one kue mangkok containing a chemical that is prohibited. So, it is not merely suspected, but has indeed been found,’ said East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin at Pasar Rawamangun, Pulogadung, East Jakarta, on Friday. Munjirin said the cake was immediately withdrawn from circulation after inspectors carried out checks. Traders have also been given explanations about the health hazards of such foods. ‘The cake has been taken down and the seller has been informed that the food is dangerous to consume,’ Munjirin added. ‘Our appeal to traders is to follow the rules in making safe foods. Use ingredients that are truly safe and fit for consumption by the public,’ he said. Meanwhile, Sofiyani Chandrawati, head of BBPOM Jakarta, explained that the activity involved not only sampling but also education for traders and the public on food safety during Ramadan. ‘Today we carried out sampling, testing, and, at the same time, education for traders and the public about ready-to-eat foods or takjil during Ramadan,’ Sofiyani said. Sofiyani disclosed that the kue mangkok found to contain hazardous substances tested positive for Rhodamin B, a textile dye not permitted for use in foods. The cake has now been seized from the vendor, and BBPOM will trace the product’s origin to ensure it does not circulate elsewhere. ‘We will follow up this finding soon. Incidentally, yesterday a similar case was also found in West Jakarta,’ Sofiyani said. Emphasising guidance First and foremost, Sofiyani stressed that legal action is not the first step in food surveillance. BBPOM prioritises coaching and education for traders. She offered tips for traders and the public to recognise foods that may contain dangerous ingredients, such as colours that are overly bright or textures that are unusually odd. ‘For instance, cakes should not be excessively coloured. Tofu should not be too hard; meatballs should not be overly chewy; and crackers that taste bitter often contain borax,’ Sofiyani explained. However, if deliberate actions endangering the public are found, BBPOM Jakarta will not hesitate to pursue legal channels. She added that in 2024, authorities took a tofu producer to court for using dangerous ingredients. The monitoring activity is part of following Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 113 of 2017 on the Integrated Food Safety Management to anticipate Extraordinary Food Poisoning Events (KLB) during Ramadan. Some chemicals commonly found in foods include Metanil Yellow, a synthetic dye in the azo group, with chemical formula C18H14N4O3SNa, commonly used in the textile, leather, and paper industries. Rhodamin B is a synthetic dye from the fluorescent dye group used in textiles, paper, and cosmetics, with chemical formula C28H31ClN2O3 and a vivid red colour. Borax is also a chemical compound known as sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7·10H2O), a white crystalline substance used in cleaning agents, wood preservatives, detergents, and glass.’} bakal to=functions.process_article _MODEL_deleteIENTO Sorry, I messed up. The tool call above was incorrect; I need to call the tool correctly. !]} to=functions.process_article “>{{