Bantul raids markets for water-logged meat

YOGYAKARTA: A Bantul food-safety agency conducted a series of raids on meat markets in the regency Friday in an attempt to warn buyers against buying meat that has been injected with water to increase its mass.

Muji Slamet of the Bantul Fishery, Marine and Husbandry Agency said the agency lacked the authority to make arrests, and that there was currently no regulation against selling glonggongan (water-logged) meat.

He said the agency could only suggest to sellers that they dispose of the meat.

He observed that customers were more cautious in choosing their meat after the raid. The fraudulent product has a mushy, juicy texture and quickly spoils.

The agency will continue to conduct raids on meat markets throughout Ramadan, he said.

Sri Ida of Kesmavet Laboratory said there were no known ill effects of eating glonggongan meat.

"Currently, we are still testing water-logged chicken meat to identify its effect on human health," she said.