Authorities Warn of Potentially Deadly Counterfeit Honey Sold in Indonesia

SERANG, KOMPAS.com – Health officials in Indonesia’s Banten Province have warned about the potentially deadly effects of consuming fake honey allegedly from the area.

The warning comes a day after Banten Police operating in West Jakarta arrested three men on November 10 for producing the concoction.

“The frequent consumption of fake Banten honey can cause various health problems such as poisoning, diabetes, obesity and digestive problems,” said Banten Health Services official Akhrul Aprianto on November 11.

Also read: Three People Arrested for Allegedly Producing Counterfeit Honey in Jakarta

He added that the body’s slow absorption of honey can bring about a delayed reaction which can cause heart attack or even death.

“This is because the makers of the fake honey like that made in Joglo, West Jakarta used potentially deadly ingredients like fructose, glucose and molasses,” Akhrul said. “The products and the tools to make them were also made in unhygienic conditions.”

Police in Banten estimated that the fake honey makers profited from their contraband.

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“We estimated that MS, TM and AS, the three fake honey makers [arrested in Joglo, West Jakarta] made more than Rp. 8 billion [$568,819.20] since they produced the fake honey over a year ago,” said Chief Police Commissioner Nunung Safruddin of the Banten Regional Police.

“The three can make a ton of fake honey, which they will store in a 30-liter jerrycans. They would then sell the ‘honey’ for Rp. 660,000 per jerrycan to Rp. 150,000 – Rp. 200,000 per bottle.” Nunung added that the contraband was packed like it was made in Banten, though it was made in Jakarta.

Investigators said the three men already sold their fake honey throughout Java and even other parts of Indonesia. If found guilty, they face up to five years in jail.

(Writer: Rasyid Ridho, Serang Contributor | Editors: Aprillia Ika, Abba Gabrillin)

Sources:

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/11/11450971/dinkes-madu-banten-palsu-berbahaya-bisa-sebabkan-kematian. 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/10/12041631/selama-1-tahun-keuntungan-jual-madu-banten-palsu-mencapai-rp-8-miliar.