Jakarta, IO – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is urged to immediately audit and investigate the findings by Taiwanese authorities that Indonesian instant noodles branded Indomie Rasa Ayam Spesial contains dangerous substance Ethylene Oxide (EtO), reported CNNIndonesia, Thursday (27/4).
This was conveyed by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi. He wished to know whether the contaminated instant noodles with the same brand and variant are also being sold domestically.
“Audits and investigations must be carried out immediately. BPOM must ascertain whether these are for export only or sold in Indonesia as well,” said Tulus. “BPOM must continue to ensure that products circulating in Indonesia are safe according to applicable standards.”
He also urged BPOM to increase the standard for EtO content in instant noodles according to European and United States regulations in order to provide better protection for consumers, He even recommended that BPOM implements zero EtO.
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“So the existing technical regulations regarding ethylene oxide health risk mitigation must be revised or upgraded. The policies of the governments of Taiwan and Malaysia should set an example,” he said.
Taiwan Health Ministry also found similar substance in Malaysia-produced instant noodle branded Ah Lai White Curry Mie. Taiwanese authorities said ethylene oxide found in the instant noodle seasoning package can pose risk of lymphoma and leukemia. (un)