The Indonesian Health Ministry appealed to parents to prioritize giving nutritious food to their children, rather than snack products with no safety guarantee for consumption.
“Parents are advised to be careful in giving food for their children, especially because these children are still in growth period. Therefore, healthy and nutritious food must be prioritized over snacks,” the ministry’s head of communication and public service bureau, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said in Jakarta, Sunday.
She addressed that the incident of food poisoning in patients after consuming liquid nitrogen-treated snacks in West Java must become an important lesson for all parents.
Behind its popularity, this snack that uses liquid nitrogen has caused 28 children in West Java to become poisoned after consuming it.
“Currently all patients are healthy because this happened in Tasikmalaya in November 2022 and in Bekasi on December 21, 2022. Yesterday I got a report that all patients are healthy,” she confirmed.
Tarmizi conveyed that parents must be educated regarding their children’s food intake.
“It is also necessary to educate parents that giving food to children should be nutritious and processed in a standard way, not snacking carelessly,” she reminded.
In addition, intensive efforts are also needed to monitor the distribution of food throughout the region.
“We have opened a reporting channel for people who have experienced poisoning due to the liquid nitrogen-treated snacks,” she continued.
The reporting channel can be accessed through the number of the Referral Health Services Work Team at 088215992763 or via email jasakesehatan.rujukanlain@gmail.com.
Earlier, 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 infused with liquid nitrogen.
The children reportedly experienced several symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. They were provided medical treatment at the local community health center.
The 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 ignited due to the nitrogen added into his snack.
Source: Antara News