Public No need to Worry about the Issue of Rice Containing Arsenic

Food Safety Researcher of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Dr. Yadi Haryadi calls for people not to be concerned with the news that the rice imported from Thailand contains arsenic because its evidence is found only in America, while such rice in Indonesia until now has not been available. The same appeal is addressed to the mass media, not directly blow-up such an issue that may not be true.

"People do not need to worry. And the media should not make people panic," said a lecturer of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Fateta) IPB, in a press conference in Dramaga campus of IPB Bogor, Wednesday (10/10).

As anticipation, Dr. Yadi also asks the government to further tighten the entry of food into Indonesia, including rice in this case because it is possible for contaminated food to pass into Indonesia.

Further, Dr. Yadi said arsenic-contaminated rice can actually harm the body chronically with the effect felt after a long time. Arsenic may exist in rice out of cultivation, such as the soil on which rice grows, and the fertilizer used. On the other hand, in terms of processing arsenic contamination is highly unlikely to occur

Therefore, Dr. Yadi asserts that the anticipation should directed not only to the imported rice, but also to domestically produced rice that is grown on suspected soil, such as the former landfill or land close to it. Contamination of other metals such as mercury used in illegal gold processing where the wastes are discharged into rivers may irrigate rice fields. (Mtd)