MP Calls on Businesses to Ensure Nutritional Content of Fortified Rice Matches Package Claims

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of the Indonesian Parliament's Commission IV, Ajbar, has urged businesses to ensure that the nutritional content of fortified rice matches what is claimed on the packaging. This is essential to protect consumer rights and maintain public trust in these nutritious food products.

"The expectation is that the fortified rice purchased by the public truly contains specific nutrients. Of course, this involves different production processes. We hope that the richness of fortification aligns proportionally with the actual content in the fortified rice," Ajbar said in Jakarta on Saturday (19/9/2026).

He emphasized that businesses must verify that the nutritional content on fortified rice packaging is accurate and that production and product information comply with applicable standards before the rice reaches consumers.

"Businesses must ensure that the production process, nutritional content, and product information meet regulations before the rice is marketed," he added.

Ajbar explained that fortified rice is a product enhanced with added nutrients, so the listed composition on the packaging must accurately represent its actual contents.

"The presence of fortified rice aims to provide high-quality rice supplemented with various vitamins through a fortification mechanism or pattern," he said.

According to Ajbar, businesses need to guarantee the production process, nutrient levels, and packaging information truly match the product.

This way, consumers receive fortified rice that corresponds with the stated nutrient content.

"I encourage all my colleagues, rice millers, and rice traders to strictly comply and ensure that what appears on the packaging truly reflects the rice's content," he said.

Besides quality and nutrient content, the price of fortified rice should also remain affordable.

Ajbar requested that pricing be set reasonably by taking into account production costs and fortification expenses.

"I hope the price of fortified rice can be balanced with the production costs and the cost impact resulting from the addition of various vitamins through fortification," Ajbar said.

This call aligns with the need to keep fortified rice developing as an accessible nutritious food product for the public.

Prices should fairly represent the production process and the actual nutrient content so that consumers gain proportional benefits from the price they pay.

"There needs to be a balance, and I hope that prices are not exploited arbitrarily with no limit despite the nutrient content," he added.

"We hope fortified rice can truly be enjoyed, and I wish for it to be accessible to all our people, with good pricing schemes," he concluded.

Previously, the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, announced findings that 25 brands of fortified rice allegedly did not comply with standards or contain the nutrients listed on their labels, resulting in consumer losses amounting to up to Rp 89 trillion.

These 25 brands failed to meet the nutrient content and quality standards according to SNI 9314:2024 for fortified rice kernels and SNI 9372:2025 for fortified rice.

The suspected brands include WFO, TKS, IMF, NUR, TKL, HOK, BRV, IMR, IHJ, IAK, PBK, GNB, DTR, TKR, WJK, PLK, MKY, IMC, PTK, ARP, ARN, SKM, GNM, TAR, and CMS.

In response, the government has taken firm steps by ordering product withdrawals, revoking permits, and pursuing legal action against those allegedly involved in accordance with the prevailing laws.

Amran stressed there is no room for businesses that manipulate fortified rice.

Supervision has been intensified and violations will be sanctioned, including permit revocations for products proven to be non-compliant.

"Now for fortified rice, those who manipulate will be firmly dealt with and severely punished. It is under strict supervision. We have asked the main secretary and the newly appointed Deputy of Bapanas to supervise and take action," Amran said.

"Those who violated the rules regarding fortification will have their permits revoked. I have ordered that their permits be canceled," he added.