Dietary exposure to sulfites in Indonesians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Information on dietary exposure to sulfites as preservative in consumer is needed as a scientific base for food safety policy making. The objective of this research was to conduct dietary exposure assessment to sulfites in consumers by using a deterministic method. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The scope of work was identification of food products containing sulfites, determination of food consumption data from the individual food consumption survey report of 2014, determination of sulfite concentration in food, and calculation of sulfite exposure. RESULTS: 3,428 (9%) of 37,613 food products registered in National Agency of Drug and Food Control (2012-2015) may contain sulfite. The most used sulfite in food products was sodium metabisulfite. The mean of food containing sulfite consumption in all age groups was 131.4 g/person/day. The estimation of total exposure for all age groups were 0.27 mg/kgBW/day (38.6% ADI), 0.25 mg/kgBW/day (35.7% ADI) and 0.08 mg/kgBW/day (11.4% ADI) by using concentrations of Maximum Permitted Limit, reported maximum used level and reported maximum product test result, respectively. Food category contributed to the highest exposure in all age groups was spices, condiments, vinegar, powder or mixture for soups and broths, and other soy sauce category. CONCLUSIONS: The highest total exposure to sulfites was found in 0-59 month age group. The highest total exposure for the MPL (0.79 mg/kgBW/day) and the reported maximum used level (0.73 mg/kgBW/day) exceeded 112.9% ADI and 104.3% ADI, respectively while the exposure using reported maximum test result was still below ADI (0.25 mg/kgBW/day or 35.7% ADI).

Estimation of economic loss due to food poisoning outbreaks.

Food poisoning outbreaks frequently occur in many countries resulting in economic loss. A formula for calculation of economic loss due to food poisoning outbreaks in Indonesia was developed. Estimation of the loss was developed based on experiences in several countries. Related data were also collected from local health facilities, food industry officials, and other sources to improve the accuracy of the formula. Calculation of the economic loss was performed based on cases of food poisoning outbreaks recorded in 2013. Economic loss was estimated based on direct health-care costs, direct non-health-care costs, and indirect non-health-care costs. The economic loss of food poisoning outbreaks in Indonesia in 2013 was approximately US$ 78 million. The high-cost of economic loss due to food poisoning outbreaks suggests a need for additional and serious efforts for controlling all aspects of food safety.