Beware of Hazardous Materials in School Children Snacks

Children spend most of their time in school, including mealtime. That is why, in almost all schools, there are hawker sellers. However, snacks for school children in Indonesia are now highlighted because they contain hazardous ingredients. Who would have thought, if the child's snacks at school were not safe. A variety of colorful drinks and foods apparently contain harmful ingredients if consumed continuously. Not a few snacks from school children were found to contain borax, formalin, rhodamin B, and methanil yellow coloring.

Dangerous ahan in School Children Snacks

Here are some health risks from hazardous substances in school children snacks, namely:

• Borax

Borax (sodium tetraborate) looks like white powder or resembles a salt that has no taste. Usually used in detergents, pesticides, fertilizers, and some types of medicines. Misuse of borax is used as a food preservative and helps the meat to become tender, even though borax is a substance that is at risk of causing health problems. The entry of borax into the body can trigger several symptoms, such as fever, nausea, and vomiting. Exposure to borax on the skin and eyes can trigger skin and red eye irritation. At high doses, borax can cause poisoning, coma, and even death.

• Formalin

Formalin is carcinogenic (can cause cancer), is colorless, and has a strong aroma. This substance is classified as very toxic if consumed in high doses. The use of formalin in food in Indonesia includes instant noodles, salted fish, tofu, and chicken. Snacks for school children containing formalin will be dangerous if consumed in the long run. Formalin at low doses in the air can irritate the eyes, causing watery eyes, headaches, burning or sore throat, difficulty breathing, and can trigger asthma attacks. There is also research that says, exposure to formalin can cause disorders of the reproductive organs in women. In pregnant women, this substance can cause fetal defects, even fetal death in the womb. Formalin in high doses that enter the body can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory irritation, coma, kidney damage, until death.

• Rhodamin B

Rhodamin B is a chemical coloring agent commonly used for paper, textiles, wood, soap, and gold. The danger of consuming this substance is that it can cause impaired liver function and liver cancer. Exposure to this dangerous substance can also cause damage to other body organs, such as the kidneys and respiratory tract.

• Metanil yellow

The chemical methanil yellow can cause health effects, if consumed in high doses. Symptoms that can arise from exposure to this substance are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin and eye irritation, and decreased blood pressure. This substance also has the potential to trigger cancer. If consumed in the long run, methanil yellow can cause bladder cancer.

Choosing Healthy Snacks

From the results of a school children's snack food survey (PJAS) conducted by BPOM to monitor the role of parents in the habit of snacking children at school, around 42 percent of parents prefer to provide supplies to their children, while 58 percent allow children to buy snacks at school. Actually, you are not prohibited from allowing children to eat snacks at school. As long as the snacks are safe and not dangerous. Snacks that can be said to be healthy for school children, include:

• Foods low in sugar, fat, and salt.
• Foods that contain protein and whole grain products.
• Fruits or fruit juices mixed with yogurt or milk.
• Milk, nuts and raisins.

If parents do not bring lunch, it is advisable to tell children to stay away from snacks at school that have colors that are too flashy, and tastes that are too sweet or savory. In addition, beware of snacks schoolchildren who burn because of excessive frying or using oil that has been used repeatedly, as well as products that have expired. It is important to ensure that snacks for school children are free of harmful substances. Parents and the school can work together to monitor this. Also inform children how to choose snacks for healthy school children.