Previously, House Committee IX member Rahmad Handoyo asked BPOM to retest all food packaging produced using EG, including PET bottles.
“For food packaging that may contain Ethylene Glycol, because it can cause health hazards to children like what happened in Gambia, BPOM needs to conduct a study or research again to determine the levels of Ethylene Glycol in certain products,” said Rahmad on Tuesday (18/10).
There is urgency for research on food packaging containing EG in light of scientific progress, even though the distribution licence has been granted.
“Empirical research must be carried out including on what caused acute kidney infection in our children. So, I think it is the right step for BPOM to conduct a thorough study involving researchers from highly competent universities,” Rahmad added.
National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) Arist Merdeka Sirait concurred. He recommended that BPOM requires manufacturers to provide a warning label on the packaging of products containing EG.