PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java Industry and Trade Service found violations related to food safety when conducting an inspection at the Cicadas Trade Mall (BTM) traditional market, Bandung City.

The inspection was carried out by a joint team in the context of supervision and guidance, consumer protection ahead of the Religious and National Holidays (HKBN) Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024.

Head of the West Java Department of Industry and Trade, Noneng Komara Nengsih, said that his party carried out integrated supervision with the West Java Regional Police, BPOM, the West Java Health Service and the West Java Food and Livestock Security Service (DKPP).

During the inspection, his party examined a number of samples ranging from meat, vegetables to food ingredients.

"Thank God, the results for beef were not mixed. Then the chicken and meatballs were negative for borax, the vegetables were also negative for pesticides. There was only some formaldehyde in Medan anchovies and noodles," said Noneng at Bandung BTM Market, Monday (18/12/2023) .

Noneng emphasized that he would send a warning letter to the market to follow up on these findings and that products found to contain dangerous substances would be immediately withdrawn.

The West Java Department of Industry and Trade will also check other markets in 27 city districts in West Java to ensure food safety.

"It's possible that (there are findings) that are the same as that, it should be a concern for both producers and traders to be careful when selling food products," he said.

Noneng said, for traders who are found selling products containing dangerous substances, his party will issue a warning and withdraw their merchandise.

"Of course we issued a warning and took down the merchandise," said Noneng.

Apart from that, his party also deployed a laboratory vehicle to check the levels of substances contained in products sold on the market.

"But usually it is not integrated, each has its own testing at both the Department of Industry and Trade and DKPP. But periodically, we jointly look at the content of the food," he explained.

With regard to basic necessities, Noneng said that currently in 27 district and city markets in West Java there has been a decline in prices, for example rice and chilies.

"Only red onions have a slight price increase before Christmas and New Year," he said.

Noneng said, to anticipate this price increase, the West Java Provincial Government carried out subsidized market operations in several city districts that experienced high inflation.

This step was taken as a price intervention which is currently still running in Cirebon and Tasikmalaya City.

"This has been done since last Sunday, such as for chilies, rice, cooking oil and granulated sugar," he said.

The local government also carries out cheap bazaars and subsidized market operations, including cutting the supply chain for these commodities.

"In the near future there will be a chili harvest. It is hoped that this will reduce the price of chilies," he said.

Noneng added that his party is also optimizing the Provincial Distribution Center (PDP) managed by Agro Jabar.