In a joint press conference at the Ministry of Informatics and Communications (Kominfo), Kominfo Minister Tiftul Sembiring --together with Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, BPOM Head Kustantinah, Bogor-Institute of Agriculture Rector Herry Suhardiyanto and Civil Affairs Director of the Attorney General`s Office, Faithoni-- announced the results of studies on all brands of formula milk in Indonesia.
"After we conducted researches on all brands of formula milk which are circulating in Indonesia in 2011, we did not find any brands of the milk which were contaminated by Enterobacter Sakazakii bacteria," Trihono, head of the research and development of the Health Ministry, said.
He said that the sample taking was done by the BPOM during the March - April 2011 period through out Indonesia both from traditional and supermarkets.
Trihono said that tests were conducted on the samples of 47 brands, both imported and produced at home.
A total of 183 samples were tested in three laboratories, of which 59 samples were tested in the research and development of the health ministry, 60 samples at the BPOM and 64 others were tested in the Bagor-based Institute of Agriculture laboratory.
The surveillance test on the formula milk was conducted in connection with the results of an IPB research result announced in 2008 which stated that a number of brands of milk were contaminated by the Enterobacter Sakazakii bacteria.
David Tobing, one of the milk consumers, filed a lawsuit against the result of the research to the Supreme Court which later ruled in favor of Tobing.
The Supreme Court ordered the ministry of health, BPOM and IPB to disclose the brands of the milk which the IPB had found to contained the Sakazakii bacteria.
"We are asked to carry out the supreme court decision but we cannot do that as a way out we offered to conduct a repeated test on all brands of milk formula circulating in Indonesia in 2011," the health minister said meanwhile.***4***
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(T.SYS/A/A014/F001) 08-07-2011 15:33:05
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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