The Food and Drug Monitoring Center (BBPOM) in Jakarta once again held Information and Education Communication (KIE) to increase public knowledge and awareness about choosing and using safe cosmetics.

They (the public) must be vigilant

It was done by collaborating with DPR Member, Dian Istqomah. Hundreds of residents in the Semper area, North Jakarta attended the activity with the theme 'Masyarakat Cerdas Gunakan Kosmetik yang Aman' (Smart People Use Safe Cosmetics).

BBPOM Head, Sofiyani Chandrawati Anwar said cosmetics containing dangerous ingredients such as mercury, hydroquinone, retinoic acid, and textile dyes are still often found today. Hence, she urged the public to be alert to the circulation of cosmetics containing dangerous ingredients.

She explained cosmetics contain the dangerous ingredient mercury, retinoic acid is usually added to skin whitening cosmetic preparations, hydroquinone to skin lightening preparations, and the use of textile dyes in make-up cosmetic preparations.

"They (the public) must be vigilant, remembering that sales of cosmetics containing dangerous ingredients can also be found online," she explained, Thursday (1/11).

Thereby, they can use the BPOM Mobile application to ensure that drug and food products in circulation are safe and registered with BPOM.

"Products that have been registered with BPOM mean that they have been evaluated for safety, quality, efficacy, and usefulness," she added.

At the same time, education was also held to the public in three different locations in the West and South Jakarta areas attended by hundreds of people. Hopefully, it could increase public awareness and knowledge in choosing and using safe medicines and food.

"The public must be smart consumers, use safe medicine, and food," she said.

In the meantime, Dian Istiqomah conveyed the importance of the public knowing whether the products they purchased were safe or not. By applying CLICK CHECK, namely checking packaging, labels, distribution permits, and expiration.

“Let's be smart consumers, make sure medicine and food are safe. Make sure the product has a distribution permit number from BPOM," she stated.