"The problem of junk food is a global problem," chairperson of IDAI Piprim Basarah Yanuarso said at a media briefing on “Children's Snacks and Digestive Health,” which was followed online on Tuesday.
The consumption of junk food, which is increasingly becoming widespread, has led to many children suffering from obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in their teens, he explained. The number of people suffering from those diseases has continued to increase every day, he said.
There are even some teenagers suffering from hypertension, a disease that is commonly found in people who are aging. It could be caused by a lack of exercise or bad eating habits.
The industry will continue to innovate as junk food will not be tolerated anymore, Yanuarso said. To this end, natural foods must be promoted at the household level because parents have the main control over their children’s nutrition at home.
By providing natural foods to children, parents can ensure that children's needs for animal proteins are fulfilled. Some examples of such foods that can be provided to children are fried eggs and fried fish. However, the use of flour must be avoided as it would increase sugar levels.
He also discussed reports of food poisoning caused by snacks infused with liquid nitrogen.
According to him, the food poisoning incident has come as an alarm bell for all parties to strengthen supervision and security in relation to children's food consumption.
"We have health offices, and there is also the BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Agency). We must make this a wake-up call to care and be serious about foods that can make our children healthy," he said.
He asked parents to continue to provide healthy foods to children and help them maintain a balanced nutritional intake to prevent malnutrition and obesity.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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