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Jakarta launches mobile lab to test market products
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Consumers shop for beef at Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta. (JP/Viriya Paramita Singgih)
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n a bid to improve food safety, the Jakarta administration has launched six mobile laboratories that will regularly examine food products sold at 154 markets across the capital.
Jakarta Fisheries, Agriculture and Food Security Agency head Darjamuni Taseda said on Wednesday that the 154 sites comprised wet markets operated by city-owned company PD Pasar Jaya, modern retailers as well as distributor centers.
“We aim to take 47,740 samples at those markets annually to check if the products contain substances that are hazardous to health,” he said during the launch at City Hall.
He added that harmful substances could include formalin, borax, textile coloring agent Rhodamin B and pesticides. “We will also check for chlorine used as a whitening agent in rice,” he said.
Darjamuni said his personnel would regularly take 62 samples at each market. They would comprise 24 samples of rice, fruits and vegetables; 15 samples of meat and chicken intestines; and 23 samples of fish, seafood and related products.
“If we find any vendor selling products containing hazardous substances, we will send warning letters to the market management, so they can sanction the vendors,” he said.
Sanctions could range from written warnings to the confiscation of products.
He said if his personnel could obtain enough information, the agency would try to investigate further to find out where the products were made.
