BPOM Opens Up About 60 Percent of Unhealthy Nestle Products

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) states the news about 60 percent of the product Nestle not meeting health standards is basically not related to food safety and quality.

“Information on unhealthy products conveyed in the news is not related to food safety and quality,” BPOM wrote in a written statement received. CNNIndonesia.com, Tuesday (8/6).

BPOM said that the information on Nestle’s unhealthy products focused more on the nutritional content of the product, particularly the content of Sugar, Salt and Fat (GGL).

The nutritional content of the product (GGL), said BPOM, is one of the risk factors for causing Non-Communicable Diseases (PTM) if consumed in excessive amounts.

The content of GGL is in the Nutritional Value Information (ING) which must be included in the product label. This provision is regulated in BPOM Regulation No. 22 of 2019 concerning Information on Nutritional Values ​​on Processed Food Labels.

As for food safety and quality, BPOM claims to have carried out an evaluation process on aspects of safety, quality, nutrition and labeling.

“Including the inclusion of ING in providing a Marketing Permit Number (NIE) for processed food products, including Nestle products circulating in Indonesia,” said the BPOM statement.

Furthermore, BPOM also ensures that it always carries out safety, quality, and label control including ING through sampling and testing. Thus, BPOM has warned business actors to be obligated to ensure that the products in circulation meet the requirements for safety, quality, nutrition, and labeling.

BPOM also continues to urge the public to be smart consumers and not easily influenced by circulating issues. One way is to check the packaging, label, distribution permit, and expiration date, before buying or consuming food products.

“Together BPOM” stakeholder continue to encourage people to read labels including ING as an effort to prevent PTM and apply the principle of balanced nutrition consumption in accordance with Minister of Health Regulation No. 41/2014 concerning Guidelines for Balanced Nutrition,” concluded BPOM.

Nestle previously admitted that more than 60 percent of its food and beverage products did not meet applicable health standards. The company acknowledged this after the company’s internal documents were leaked.

According to Nestle internal documents reviewed Financial Times, only 37 per cent of the company’s products rank above 3.5 in the Australian health rating system.

Responding to the news, Nestle Indonesia’s Head of Corporate Communication Stephan Sinisuka admitted that less than 30 percent of its products did not meet health standards. However, this product excludes products for children, special nutrition, pets, and coffee products.

Stephan emphasized that the report stating that 60 percent of Nestle products did not meet health standards only covered about half of the global sales portfolio of Nestle Indonesia’s products. This means that the study does not cover the entire product portfolio of Nestle Indonesia.

(khr/wis)

[Gambas:Video CNN]

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