Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Agriculture Minister and National Food Agency chief Amran Sulaiman has flagged 25 fortified rice brands for allegedly failing to meet the nutritional standards stated on their labels.
Amran said laboratory tests found that the nutritional content of the products did not match their claims of being fortified rice.
"They claim to be fortified. After we checked them at four credible laboratories, we found that they did not match their labels," Amran said at a news conference in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
The tests were conducted by several laboratories, including the Integrated Laboratory of IPB University in Bogor, the Agricultural Research and Modernization Agency (BRMP), Saraswanti Indo Genetech and Eurofins.
Amran estimated that consumers could have suffered losses of up to Rp89 trillion ($5.0 billion) from the alleged mislabeling and inflated prices.
He said some fortified rice products were sold for as much as Rp57,000 ($3.2) per kilogram, compared with an expected price of about Rp13,500 per kilogram.
"The average difference is Rp22,000 per kilogram. This is hurting our consumers," Amran said.
The 25 brands identified by the government are:
- Idola Fortifikasi
- Idola High Quality Whole Grain Rice
- Idola Long Grain Rice
- Ikan Mas Cupang
- AAA Wijaya Kusuma
- Cantik Manis
- Penari Bangkok
- Topi Koki Short Grain
- Topi Koki Setra Royale
- Topi Koki Long Grain Crystal
- HOK-1 Gohan
- Maknyuss Pulen Gizi
- Anak Raja Fortifikasi
- Anak Raja Nusantara
- Top Anak Raja
- PMS Induk Ayam
- Sumo
- Rasvit
- FS Nutri Rice
- Pelikan
- Rice Rojolele
- Super Kepala Beras Premium 111
- 111 Golden Number
- Putri Koki
- Wellfarm Beras Diabet
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/fortified-rice-scandal-indonesia-flags-25-brands-cites-5b-consumer-los