Unsafe snacks still pose danger to children

Indonesian children are eating too many unhealthy snacks and meals, sold by street food vendors in their schools, a senior health official has warned.

Dr. Minarto, nutrition management director at the Health Ministry, said recently that Indonesian children are more susceptible to health risks caused by the common habit of skipping breakfast.

She said that schoolchildren who eat breakfast before going to school are more protected against foodborne illnesses caused by unsafe and unhealthy snacks and meals.

“By eating breakfast, schoolchildren will not [be tempted] to consume unhygienic food sold by street food vendors, which would therefore reduce the risk of their becoming ill,” Minarto told a press conference as part of the NICE Project National Campaign, held by the Health Ministry.

Studies show that a healthy food environment at school has a huge impact on youngsters’ dietary intakes, which will also affect their academic achievement at school.

Citing Health Ministry data from 2008, Minarto said that 48 percent of schoolchildren in Indonesia ate snacks or meals sold by street vendors at least four times a week. Only 1 percent of schoolchildren never consumed food from street vendors. Snacks and street food accounted for 36 percent of the school-children’s total daily energy needs.

“If schoolchildren meet a third of their total daily calories by snacking at school, it means that they never have breakfast,” said Minarto, adding that the data showed that in Indonesia, breakfast has become increasingly unpopular among schoolchildren.

By not eating breakfast, children will not only find it difficult to concentrate in class but they will also be prone to food borne illnesses, such as diarrhea, which can be caused by unhygienic snacks.

The ministry’s data shows that 44 percent of snacks and meals consumed by schoolchildren are unsafe and unhealthy because such food contains dangerous preservatives and food colorings, such as formalin, rhodamin, and borax, at levels exceeding recommended limits. It is also argued that many snacks and meals sold to children at school are not only contaminated with microbes and chemical substances, but also have low nutritional content.

Vice President Boediono has urged schools to carry out routine food safety inspections, as an increasing number of schoolchildren are being exposed unhealthy snacks.

“Many schoolchildren are prone to eat unsafe and unhealthy snacks distributed by street vendors; therefore, we need to inspect the snacks and meals sold to children at our schools,” said Boediono.

He called for the food health inspection while promoting the “Healthy and Quality Snacks for Schoolchildren Movement” at the Vice Presidential Palace on Jan. 31.

“Only 57 percent of snacks sold to schoolchildren meet health requirements,” said Boediono, adding that 64 percent of meals were consumed by schoolchildren at home, while the remaining 36 percent consisted of snacks sold by street vendors.

Ensuring our children enjoy healthy balanced diets is critical, given that Indonesia has more than 30 million children aged 6-12 years, and more than 50 million children aged 6-18 years.

Studies show that many children and adolescents who currently suffer from malnutrition had poor dietary intakes before the age of five. However, they may still grow normally if they eat a more balanced diet. By having breakfast before starting daily activities, children may significantly decrease health risks in the future associated with poor diet.

— JP/Elly Burhaini Faizal