Increase awareness of food safety

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 7 views

Introduction

Maintaining food safety is a crucial aspect of public health, and one of the key issues that often arises is the use of borax, a dangerous preservative that is prohibited in food. Borax, commonly used as an antiseptic, has been a concern due to its frequent presence in food, particularly in crackers, despite the government's ban on its use. This study aims to conduct a qualitative analysis of borax content in crackers circulating in the Padang Bulan area, Medan, to ensure that the food sold in this region meets the established food safety standards.

Background

Food safety is a critical concern in public health, and the use of borax as a preservative in food products is a significant issue. Borax, a naturally occurring mineral, has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and insecticide. However, its use in food products has been banned in many countries, including Indonesia, due to its potential health risks. The Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation No. 1168/MENKES/PER/X/1999 prohibits the use of borax as a food additive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food safety standards.

Research Methods

In this study, a qualitative analysis of borax content was conducted in crackers using three testing methods:

Flame Test (Flame Test)

This method involves burning the cracker samples and observing the resulting color of the flame. The presence of borax can usually be indicated by a certain color change in the flame. The flame test is a simple and effective method for detecting the presence of borax in food products.

Color Test Using Turmeric Paper (Turmeric Paper Test)

Turmeric paper can change color when exposed to borax ions. This test is simple and effective to detect the presence of borax. The turmeric paper test is a widely used method for detecting borax in food products.

Sediment Test

If there is borax, a sediment will be formed that can be visually observed. This test is a simple and effective method for detecting the presence of borax in food products.

Research Results

From the results of qualitative analysis conducted on six cracker samples, each was tested three times, no borax content was found in all samples. This shows that crackers circulating in the Padang Bulan area meet the established food safety standards. The results of this study support government decisions that prohibit the use of borax as food additives, based on Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation No. 1168/MENKES/PER/X/1999 concerning Requirements for Food Additional Materials.

Discussion

The results of this study are significant, as they demonstrate that crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan, are safe for consumption and do not contain borax. This is important to ensure public health and maintain food quality standards. The findings of this study support government decisions that prohibit the use of borax as food additives, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food safety standards.

Conclusion

This study succeeded in showing that crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan, are safe for consumption and do not contain borax. This is important to ensure public health and maintain food quality standards. People are advised to be more aware of the possibility of dangerous substances in the food they consume, as well as playing an active role in reporting suspicious food products to the authorities. By increasing awareness of food safety, it is expected to reduce the use of hazardous substances in food products, so that public health can be maintained.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Increase awareness of food safety: People should be more aware of the possibility of dangerous substances in the food they consume.
Play an active role in reporting suspicious food products: People should report suspicious food products to the authorities to ensure public health and maintain food quality standards.
Implement stricter food safety regulations: The government should implement stricter food safety regulations to ensure that food products meet the established food safety standards.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The study only analyzed six cracker samples, which may not be representative of the entire population of crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan.
Limited testing methods: The study only used three testing methods, which may not be sufficient to detect the presence of borax in all food products.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Increasing the sample size: Future studies should analyze a larger sample size to ensure that the results are representative of the entire population of crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan.
Using more testing methods: Future studies should use more testing methods to detect the presence of borax in all food products.
Investigating the use of borax in other food products: Future studies should investigate the use of borax in other food products to ensure that public health and food quality standards are maintained.

Q: What is borax, and why is it a concern in food products?

A: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and insecticide. However, its use in food products has been banned in many countries, including Indonesia, due to its potential health risks. Borax can cause a range of health problems, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and can also cause long-term health effects such as kidney damage and cancer.

Q: What are the methods used to detect borax in food products?

A: There are several methods used to detect borax in food products, including:

Flame test: This method involves burning the food sample and observing the resulting color of the flame. The presence of borax can usually be indicated by a certain color change in the flame.
Color test using turmeric paper: Turmeric paper can change color when exposed to borax ions. This test is simple and effective to detect the presence of borax.
Sediment test: If there is borax, a sediment will be formed that can be visually observed.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings?

A: The study's findings are significant, as they demonstrate that crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan, are safe for consumption and do not contain borax. This is important to ensure public health and maintain food quality standards. The findings of this study support government decisions that prohibit the use of borax as food additives, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food safety standards.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The study only analyzed six cracker samples, which may not be representative of the entire population of crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan.
Limited testing methods: The study only used three testing methods, which may not be sufficient to detect the presence of borax in all food products.

Q: What are the recommendations for future research?

A: Future research should focus on:

Increasing the sample size: Future studies should analyze a larger sample size to ensure that the results are representative of the entire population of crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan.
Using more testing methods: Future studies should use more testing methods to detect the presence of borax in all food products.
Investigating the use of borax in other food products: Future studies should investigate the use of borax in other food products to ensure that public health and food quality standards are maintained.

Q: What are the implications for public health?

A: The study's findings have significant implications for public health, as they demonstrate that crackers sold in Padang Bulan, Medan, are safe for consumption and do not contain borax. This is important to ensure public health and maintain food quality standards. The findings of this study support government decisions that prohibit the use of borax as food additives, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food safety standards.

Q: What are the recommendations for consumers?

A: Consumers should be more aware of the possibility of dangerous substances in the food they consume, as well as playing an active role in reporting suspicious food products to the authorities. By increasing awareness of food safety, it is expected to reduce the use of hazardous substances in food products, so that public health can be maintained.

Q: What are the recommendations for food manufacturers?

A: Food manufacturers should ensure that their products meet the established food safety standards, and should not use borax or other hazardous substances in their products. By implementing stricter food safety regulations, food manufacturers can ensure that their products are safe for consumption and meet the expectations of consumers.