T

he Jakarta branch of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has revealed that many street vendors selling food near elementary schools still cook with dangerous chemical substances.

BPOM Jakarta head Dewi Prawitasari said that the agency had sampled food from 420 street vendors selling near state elementary schools. Out of the 420, she said, roughly 20 percent still used harmful chemicals.

'€œThe dangerous chemical substances include formaldehyde, borax and textile dye. Although the harmful effects may not be detected right away, they can pose a fatal risk in the long term,'€ Dewi told reporters after a meeting with Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat at City Hall on Wednesday.

Formaldehyde is a chemical compound commonly used in disinfectants, fertilizers and as a preservative in mortuaries. The tasteless and odorless characteristic of the substance make it difficult to detect in food. Meanwhile, borax is added to cooking for a firm, rubbery texture, such as in meatballs, or as a preservative.

Dewi said that long term, such chemicals could cause cancer. The Trade Ministry'€™s directorate general of standardization and consumer protection has warned of the risk of liver cancer with a high consumption of borax over a period of 5'€“10 years.

'€œSome vendors claimed that they did not know the dangers of formaldehyde, borax and textile dye when consumed by humans. Others knew but chose to ignore it, saying they needed to use them to make money,'€ she said.

Separately, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Trade Agency (KUKMP) head Joko Kundaryo said that street vendors using chemicals in food usually operated businesses in North and East Jakarta.

Joko said that although some vendors had been given training and warnings on the danger of using chemicals in food, they continued to do so.

He said that dangerous chemical substances were found in street food, such as gorengan (fried snacks), meatballs, fried noodles and colorful beverages.

'€œThe KUKMP and BPOM will first send letters to district offices to instruct all street vendors to stop using chemicals,'€ Joko told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

He said that the city would send a warning letter to the violators. On the fourth violation, Joko said, the city would confiscate the vendors'€™ carts and equipment.

'€œIf they continue to use chemical substances in their food, we will have no choice but to confiscate their carts and equipment. We will no longer tolerate them,'€ Joko said.