Pirac 13 Snack Containing MSG, Threatens Child Health

Kapanlagi.com - A seven-packaged snacks (snacks) are usually consumed by children does not list the content of MSG, while believed to MSG when consumed in certain amounts will threaten the health of children.

Nurhasan, from Pirac (Public Interest Research and Advocacy Center) in Jakarta on Thursday said it had examined the 13 examples of snacks that were widely circulated.

Of the 13 types of snacks, seven of them contain MSG (monosodium glutamate), but does not include them in containers, while the four product anymore otherwise contain flavoring and flavor enhancer, but contains no mention of MSG and MSG include two other products, but does not mention amount of its content.

The seven products are Cheetos (1.20%), Chitato with roast beef taste (1.06%), with the taste of cheese chiki (0.76%), Happytos Torpilachips (0.71%), the Golden Horn with the taste of cheese ( 0.46%), Smax with chicken flavor (0.57%), and Taro Snack with seaweed flavor (0.62%).

The four products that declare contain flavoring and flavor enhancer, but does not mention contain MSG, the flavor of chicken with seasoning Zetz mamamai (0.50%), Twistko with barbeque corn flavor (1.59%), Double Decker Snack with chicken flavor (0 , 48%) and Twistee Corn (0.47%).

The four products were evaluated and considered misleading, because it contains mention flavor, but contains no mention of MSG.

Two products which include MSG, but did not mention the number implies, is Gemez with roast chicken flavor (0.59%) and Son Mas with the taste of cheese (0.52%).

MSG, said Nurhasan may penetrate the placenta at the time of pregnancy, through a filter between the blood brain tissue and infiltrate into the five circumventricular organs.

Protector of contaminated blood can result in brain heart abnormalities, trauma, hypertension, stress, high fever and disrupt the aging process.

MSG also trigger reactions itchy, red spots on the skin, nausea, and vomiting, headaches, migraines, asthma, heart disorders, learning disabilities and depression.

"The use of MSG at higher risk for infants and children," he said.

The 13 products are considered to violate article 30 paragraph 2 of the label on the Law No.8/1999 on Consumer Protection (CP Act).

The product is also considered to violate Article 3 paragraph 2 Regulation No.69/1999 on Food Labels and Advertising.

Article 33 of BFL and article 5 of PP 69/1999 which states each product package should include information correctly and not misleading.

Pirac ask the government to oversee the standardization of the use of MSG in packaged foods.

Producers also should be required to use measured in milligrams and not a percentage.

The government also should require food manufacturers who use MSG to light the dangers include the use of MSG in children within a certain amount.

"If manufacturers are violating BFL, then subject to sanctions under the applicable legislation," said Nurhasan.

He also asked for Drug and Food Control Agency to order the 13 producers of snack foods is so exciting product and replace it with a revised package.

Manufacturers of packaged foods must include premises actually true content and composition of the product and the right to determine what consumers will buy it or not.

He said that experiments on animals, like chickens, which consume as many as four milligrams of MSG will appear sleepy and then crashed.

There are two types of MSG that circulated in Indonesia, namely natural and artificial (synthetic). (* / Team)