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East Java administration, poultry farmers dismiss report on contaminated eggs but promise further research
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Eggs-cellent: Iswahyudi of the East Java Husbandry Agency (right) and the dean of Brawijaya University’s School of Animal Science, Suyadi, enjoy boiled eggs together with representatives of the province’s poultry farmers at the university's campus in Malang, East Java, on Sunday. (JP/Nedi Putra AW)
T
he East Java administration, academics and poultry farmers have joined forces to defend the quality of locally produced eggs following a damning report on plastic contamination in two East Java villages.
Two weeks ago, the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), the Indonesia-based Nexus3 and several other environmental groups released a joint report suggesting the practice of burning imported plastic waste had contaminated the food chain in Tropodo village of Sidoarjo regency and Bangun village in Mojokerto regency.
Free-range egg samples collected in the villages were found to contain extremely hazardous banned chemicals, including dioxins and flame retardants.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa swiftly dismissed the report and, in an apparent publicity, stunt served boiled eggs during her meeting with provincial councilors on Nov. 22.
Following suit, East Java officials, academics and poultry farmers showed their confidence in the quality of local eggs by eating them together during a press conference at Brawijaya University’s School of Animal Science campus in Malang on Nov. 24.
Chairman of the National Breeders Association Rofi Yasifun said that although the study only focused on free-range chicken eggs, it had affected the price of chicken eggs in general.
“Due to the issue [dioxin contamination], prices plunge by between Rp 500 (3 US cents) and Rp 1,000 to per kilogram,” he said.
