By Halim Nababan, National Agency for Drug & Food Control, Republic of Indonesia, presented at the International Life Sciences Institute Regional Seminar on Understanding Consumer Behaviour, Jakarta, 11 May 2015

1. Consumer’s Awareness on Food
Labelling Information
Halim Nababan
National Agency for Drug and Food Control
Republic of Indonesia (BPOM)
Presented at ILSI SEA Region Seminar on
Understanding Consumer Science and Behaviour
Jakarta, 11 May 2015 1

2. 1
Introduction
2
1
2
3
Food Labelling
AGENDA
4 Closing remarks
Case Study: Infant Formula Labeling

3. 1
Introduction
3
1
2
3
Food Labelling
AGENDA
4 Closing remarks
Case Study: Infant Formula Labelling

4. Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and of his family, including
food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” (article 25)
4
(1948)
Food has significant
contribution to a quality life

5. Food security exists when all people, at all
times, have physical, social and economic
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious
food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life
(CFS Reform Document, 2009)
5
What are the requirements of foods to achieve a
quality life?
Is there equal access to the required
foods in our world?

6. Food Safety and World Organizations
• Food safety is World Bank’s mandate (poverty
reduction)
• High economically food productions (safe and high
quality foods) contributes to poverty reduction
• Initiatives: Global Food Safety Partnership (safer
food, stronger economies, healthier world)
6
• Food safety as public health priority
• WHO Advancing Food Safety Initiatives: Strategic Plan for
Food Safety, including Foodborne Zoonoses, for 2013-2022
• Food safety is an integral part of food security
• Program focus: improving safe and quality foods along
food chain

7. Food Safety is a Shared Responsibility
Government
ConsumersProducers
All parties should play their important roles to develop food
safety according to their functions, including consumers

8. • Unreported of food borne
disease outbreaks
• Misuse of hazardous
substances
• Exceeding ML of food
additives and contaminants
• Poor hygiene and health
behaviors
CURRENT SITUATION
• Lack of consumer awareness leads to
lack consumer participation in food
safety
• Consumer should have informed choice
when selecting foods  food labeling

9. 1
Introduction
9
1
2
3
Food Labelling
AGENDA
4 Closing remarks
Case Study: Infant Formula Labelling

10. 10
Food Labeling
Description of the food in the form of images, text, a
combination of both, or other forms that are included
in the food, incorporated into, attached to, or form part
of food packaging
Government Regulation Number 69/1999 on Food Labeling and
Advertisements (State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 131/1999,
Supplement to State Gazette Number 3867)

11. 11
Food Labeling
• Food labeling aims to provide correct and
clear information to the public about
packaged food products prior to purchase
and/or consumption
• Food labels must contain information on the
food product correctly and not misleading
• Each individual is prohibited from providing
information or statements that are not true
and/or misleading
Act No 18/2012 (Indonesian Food Act) Art. 96-103

12. 12
• Contains at least information on:
– name of the food; ingredient list; net weight /volume; name
and address of manufacturer or importer; halal for those
required; production date and code; best before date;
registration number and code; origins
• Labels for certain processed food must include
information about the designation, method of
use, and / or other information that needs to
be known about the impact on human health
Act No 18/2012 (Indonesian Food Act) Art. 96-103
Food Labeling

13. 5 KEYS FOR FOOD
SAFETY
KEY 3: READ LABEL CAREFULLY
Food
Labeling
• Important Aspect, so it is included in
the 5 keys for food safety
• Key message: “Labels can serve as a
media campaign and provide
information on packaged food. Read
the information listed on the label
because we want food that we
choose according to our wishes”

14. We should determine the
understanding of consumer on
labeling
How
effective?
KEY 3:
READ LABEL CAREFULLY

15. 1
Introduction
15
1
2
3
Food Labelling
AGENDA
4 Closing remarks
Case Study: Infant Formula Labelling

16. 16
• Study where label is important for preparing safe
infant formula
• Conducted by Directorate for Food Safety
Surveillance and Extension
• Aim to look at the practices of preparation, feeding
and storage of infant formula
• Survey was implemented in Central Jakarta and East
Jakarta.
• Location: Posyandu and health care facilities
• Respondents: 137 mothers from 64 posyandu, 48
primary health care, 18 mothers-children hospitals,
and 7 hospitals.
Study of Infant Formula Milk Powder Preparation
Practices, Feeding and Storage in Household and Health
Care Facilities (2014)

17. 17
Several Findings related to labeling
More than one third respondents rarely and do not read the label
when buying infant formulas
N: 137
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Always Often Sometimes Never
Total 57.7 6.6 16.8 19
Percentage
Reading the label

18. 18
Several Findings related to labeling
Best-before / Expired date, Nutrition Facts, and Preparation
Instruction were of their major attention when buying
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Nutrition
information
Expired date Instruction Ingredients No more
Important (%) 18 64 12.6 5.4 0
Percentage
Information for respondent
N: 137

19. 19
Several Findings related to labeling
93%
7%
Knowing Storing instruction on
the label
Yes
No
N: 137
83%
1%
4% 12%
Follow the instruction
Always
Often
Sometim
es
N: 128
93% of respondents already knew the instructions on storing.
However, 17% of them do not always follow the instruction

20. 20
Several Findings related to labeling
77%
6%
3%
14%
Following the instruction
Always
Often
Someti
mes
97%
3%
Knowing Preparation Instruction
on the Label
Yes
No
97% of respondents already know there are instructions on preparing.
However, 33% of them do not always follow the instruction
N: 133
N: 137

21. 21
Several Findings related to labeling
Always
72%
Often
11%
Sometimes
7%
Never
10%
Cleaning the table before preparationN: 137
Instruction on the label mentioned that prior to preparation, table
should be cleaned. 72% respondents mentioned that they always clean
the preparation table

22. 22
Several Findings related to labeling
Always
73%
Often
3%
Sometimes…
Never
2%
Wash hands before preparation
N: 137
20%
78%
1% 1%
How to wash hands
Use of water
Use of water
and soap
Use of hand gel
Use of wet
tissues
N: 134
Washing hands is also one of information on the label, but not all
respondents wash their hands before preparation. For those who wash
their hands, only 78% of respondents use water and soap

23. 23
Several Findings related to labeling
On the label, storage time of infant formula is not more than 2 hours.
Of 137 respondents, there were 49 respondents who store their infant
formula. 45 respondents store for 2 hours and less. There were 4
respondents store more than 2 hours.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
≤120 minutes > 120 minutes
Percentage 91.8 8.2
Percentage
Storage time for infant formula after consumed
N: 49

24. 1
Introduction
24
1
2
3
Food Labelling
AGENDA
4 Closing remarks
Case Study: Infant Formula Labelling

25. Closing remarks
• Label on processed food is compulsory
• Label must provide true information and not
misleading
• However, not all consumer are aware of the
importance of labels
• Promotion on labeling awareness should be
strengthened
25

26. Terima Kasih
26