The Health Ministry has appealed to all Health Offices as well as hospitals in provinces, districts, and cities to immediately report any cases of food poisoning caused by liquid nitrogen-treated snacks.

“The Health Ministry will carry out monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (of the cases) in all regions of Indonesia,” director for referral health services at the ministry Yuli Astuti Saripawan said in a statement issued on Thursday.

It is very important to pay attention to this appeal since the ministry has received a report on an extraordinary incident (KLB) of food poisoning caused by the consumption of snacks made with liquid nitrogen, which are locally called chiki ngebul in West Java province, she added.

Local governments and Health Offices have been asked to directly report their findings on food poisoning cases to the Directorate of Referral Health Services of the Health Ministry, Adhyatma Building, Floor 4 (R.409), H.R. Rasuna Said Street Block X5, Lot 4–9, South Jakarta, 12950.

They have also been asked to contact the Working Team for Other Referral Health Services over the phone (088215992763) or on email (jasakesehatan.rujukanlain@gmail.com).

“I expect that all parties will immediately report if a case of food poisoning due to the consumption of the smoked snack is found,” Saripawan added.

A number of students from Ciawang 2 Public Elementary School, Leuwisari sub-district, Tasikmalaya district, West Java province, were suspected to have suffered food poisoning after consuming snacks made with liquid nitrogen near their school.

The children reportedly experienced several symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. They were provided medical treatment at the local community health center.

The Health Ministry had earlier issued a warning on the risk of consuming “ice smoke,” a snack containing liquid nitrogen, after a child in Ponorogo district, East Java province, was reported to have been burnt by a flame that suddenly appeared due to the nitrogen added into his snack.

Source: Antara News