Borax is commonly used for metal brazing, glass making, pesticides, and cleaning mixtures. This materialknown have danger for health if swallowedan. Even though thus, for various reasons, borax is often usedplusright into the food.
Borax is often used as an additive in various foods. This is because borax is considered to be able to preserve the product, and can increase the crispness of food. In fact, borax is a chemical that is harmful to the body.
Effects of Borax on the Body
In Indonesia, the addition of borax in food is prohibited. Even so, you can still find foods that contain borax on the market. Starting from meatballs, noodles, crackers, and several types of market snacks, even children's snacks.
The characteristics of foods containing borax are more durable, with a more chewy and soft texture. However, behind that there are negative effects of borax which are harmful to health.
The following are some of the harmful effects that may occur to you if you eat foods that contain borax:
- Fever
- Throw up
- Nauseous
- Red eye
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Hard to breathe
- Bleeding from the nose
If borax enters your body in large quantities, then in a short period of time it can cause a variety of serious health problems, in the form of stomach, intestinal, liver disorders, and even acute kidney failure that can cause death.
Given the bad impact of borax on health, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BPOM RI), intervened to carry out regular checks as well as recall food products containing chemicals that are harmful to the body, including borax.
Characteristics of Food Containing Borax
There are various reasons that encourage food manufacturers to add borax in food. Among them, borax is easily obtained in the market, the price is relatively cheap, makes food look more attractive, does not immediately cause negative effects, and information that borax is a hazardous material is still relatively limited, while this material has been used for a long time.
Foods that contain borax can be identified by the following characteristics:
- The shape and texture is more chewy and dense.
- Has a pungent or fishy odor.
- Food does not spoil for up to three days, at room temperature around 25 degrees Celsius
- Food can last more than 15 days, at a refrigerator temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius
Consumers should be careful in choosing food products. Don't just judge food by its appetizing appearance. When buying packaged food, read the product label and make sure the food is registered with BPOM. If you are a food manufacturer, avoid mixing borax in your products. Remember that borax can cause a variety of dangerous health problems.
