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View all search resultsGovt to probe reports of pork lard, toxic metals in free meal trays
An unconfirmed report circulating on social media published by an outlet known as the Indonesia Business Post claimed to have conducted an investigation in the Chaoshan region, in the eastern part of China, and found that metal trays bound for Indonesia were treated with pork lard during the manufacturing process.
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A worker prepares meal packages for the free nutritious meal program on Feb. 12 in the kitchen of an Islamic boarding school in Kudus regency, Central Java. (Antara/Yusuf Nugroho)
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uthorities have launched a probe into unconfirmed reports that food trays imported from China for the free meal program may contain harmful metals and pork lard, raising health and religious concerns for the public.
The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) Chairman Taruna Ikrar said the agency would assign a team of its scientists to conduct laboratory tests to check whether the food trays used in the program contained non-halal substances, including pork lard.
“We will follow up on this report as quickly as possible. Our laboratories are equipped to test not only for porcine DNA, but also for other animal-derived compounds such as glycerin and gelatin,” Taruna said on Wednesday, as quoted by Antaranews.
He added that BPOM will coordinate with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) to assess the halal compliance of the trays. The agency also plans to collaborate with the Industry Ministry, which operates specialized laboratories capable of detecting the presence of hazardous metals in food-contact materials.
Taruna gave no details on when the testing would wrap up but he said his team would kick off the probe in the near future.
Read also: Analysis: Prabowo sees free nutritious meal program as glass half full
Similarly, National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said the agency would look into the reports, while clarifying that BGN has never directly procured food trays for the free meal program.
