Jakarta – Traditional food supplements for children are selling well in Indonesia's capital city with parents convinced of their benefits despite many containing ingredients not suitable for children's consumption.

But these supplements have already received approval from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) despite warnings by doctors and consumer groups about the products. "I need them to keep my children in good health," said Ms Sulistyawati, 32, on Saturday.

She was buying some jamu, a traditional medicinal drink, for her two children at a kiosk in Pasar Pramuka, East Jakarta. She paid 5,000 rupiah (S$1) for a packet, which contains 10 sachets. "This jamu is good for my children as it gives them a good appetite. It also stops them getting worms," she said confidently.

However, Dr Marius Widjajarta of the Indonesian Health Consumers' Empowerment Foundation warned parents not to give food supplements to their children without consulting doctors. He warned they must be alert for food supplements claiming to be universal panaceas or able to increase intelligence. "It's nonsense. No food supplement or medicine can do that," he said.

He criticised the BPOM as most of the children's supplements had been registered with the agency even though some contained substances that children should not consume, such as the artificial sweetener cyclamate.