Borax is commonly used for metal brazing, glass making, pesticides, and cleaning mixtures. This material is known to have a health hazard if swallowed. However, for various reasons, borax is often added to food.
Borax is not rarely used as an additive in a variety of foods. That's because borax is considered to be able to preserve products, and can increase food crispness. In fact, borax is a chemical that is harmful to the body.
Effects of Borax on the Body
In Indonesia, the addition of borax to food has been banned. Even so, it can still be found foods that contain borax in the market. Starting from meatballs, noodles, crackers, and several types of market snacks.
The characteristics of foods containing borax are more durable, with a more springy and soft texture. However, behind that there are negative effects of borax which are harmful to health.
Here are some of the harmful effects that might occur to you if you eat foods containing borax:
- Fever
- Throw up
- Nausea
- Red eye
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Hard to breathe
- Bleeding from the nose
If borax enters your body in large numbers, then in a short period can cause a variety of serious health problems, in the form of stomach, intestinal, liver problems, even acute kidney failure that can cause death.
Given the adverse effects of borax on health, the Republic of Indonesia Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM RI) intervenes periodically as well as withdrawal of food products that contain chemicals that are harmful to the body, including borax.
Characteristics of Foods Containing Borax
There are various reasons that encourage food producers to add borax to food. Among other things, borax is easily available on the market, the price is relatively cheap, makes food look more attractive, does not directly cause negative effects, and information that borax is a dangerous ingredient is still relatively limited, while this material has been used for a long time.
Foods containing borax can be identified by the following characteristics:
- The shape and texture are thicker and denser.
- Has a pungent or suspicious odor.
- Food is not damaged until three days, at room temperature around 25 degrees Celsius
- Food can last more than 15 days, at refrigerator temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius
Consumers should be careful in choosing food products. Don't just judge food by its appetizing appearance. When purchasing packaged food, read the product label and make sure the food is registered with BPOM. If you are a food producer, avoid mixing borax with your product. Remember that borax can cause a variety of dangerous health problems.
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