Joint officers from Jakarta Foods and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and East Jakarta Health Sub-Department hold raid in Giant Supermarket on Jalan Pahlawan Revolusi, Pondok Bambu Urban Village, Duren Sawit Sub-District, Friday (7/11). As a result, the officers found 11 types of expired foods and beverages and seized them.

We seized 11 types of foods and beverages that are already expired and have no production date. Their packages are also damaged but still being sold

“We seized 11 types of foods and beverages that are already expired and have no production date. Their packages are also damaged but still being sold. That’s why we secured them,” stated Head of East Jakarta Health Sub-Department, Yuditha Endah.

According to Endah, the supermarket management is directly given guidance. They are also obligated to make a statement letter not to sell expired foods and beverages ever again.

“We have to hold raid like this routinely because there is possibility those (expired) foods and beverages included in parcels and sold to the public. We also urge the public to be more thorough and careful. Before buying (products), pay attention to their packages and expiry date,” she asserted.

Meanwhile, Head of Jakarta BPOM, Dewi Prawitasari, said the raid has been held for almost a month and will last until a day before Eid ul Fitr. From the raids, as many as 100 types of foods and drinks are secured. Not only in supermarkets, the raid also targeting takjil (light meals to break the fast) sellers in five municipalities.

“Entrepreneurs or supermarkets that have violated are directly given the first warning letter. If they were still violating, there will be sanction which depends on their mistakes. For takjil sellers, the sanction is usually brought to misdemeanor trial (tipiring),” she uttered.

Responding the raid, Pondok Bambu Giant Store Manager, Fifi Rufaida, explained that his party is actually checked expired foods and beverages routinely every day. There are 11,000-12,000 of products traded, and 5,000 of them are foods and beverages.

“It is probably missed from the checking. The store is large and our staffs are only 28. This is the first time happened. We’ll be more careful and focus in checking in the future,” she promised.