Hard Caffeine: BPOM Warns of Coffee Brands Containing Viagra Ingredients

JAKARTADAILY.ID – The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) revealed that a network that produces and distributes illegal products, including mixing coffee with medicinal chemicals (BKO), paracetamol, and Sildenafil, has been operating for 2 years or since December 2019.

The alleged perpetrators are estimated to have earned billions of rupiah because the confiscated evidence of illegal food and drugs alone contains an economic value of Rp 1.5 billion.

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The turnover rate for these illegal goods could be much higher, because according to the Head of The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, Penny K Lukito, based on the analysis of only one brand (namely Kopi Jantan) during the period October – November 2021, an average sales value of IDR 7 billion was recorded. , in just one month. BPOM stated that the sale of illegal goods was carried out online.

Paracetamol is usually used to relieve fever or reduce pain at a predetermined dose, while Sildenafil is commonly known as a 'strong drug' or drug to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence in men. However, the inappropriate use of Paracetamol and Sildenafil can result in mild, severe side effects, and even death.

Paracetamol can cause side effects of nausea, allergies, low blood pressure, blood disorders, and if used continuously can cause more fatal effects, such as damage to the liver and kidneys. While Sildenafil can cause side effects ranging from mild such as nausea, diarrhea, redness of the skin, to more serious reactions such as seizures, irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, or sudden blindness, and can even cause death.

Bandung and Bogor

On the basis of the danger that threatens consumers, BPOM carried out an operation to take action against illegal facilities that produce food and traditional medicines containing BKO in Bandung City and Bogor Regency on February 22, 2022. The operation is a follow-up to community reports received by the POM regarding the sale of food products. processed containing BKO online as well as the development of cases of selling illegal drug raw materials revealed by the POM.

“The POM Agency will continue to develop and identify other networks. This is done to suppress the circulation of illegal drug and food products and to eradicate the circulation of illegal drug raw materials in Indonesia,” said Penny in a press release published last weekend.

The investigation, supervision, and inspection activities are carried out by the Deputy for Enforcement at the POM Agency together with the POM Center in Bandung and the POM Workshop in Bogor Regency. From the results of the operation, it was found that the finished products were 15 types (5,791 pcs) of processed food containing BKO and 36 types (18,212 pcs) of traditional medicine containing BKO.

Later, production materials and raw materials were also found in the form of 32 Kilograms (Kg) of raw materials for illegal drugs containing Paracetamol and Sildenafil, 5 Kg of bulk products or semi-finished mixed materials, capsule shells, and various types of packaging materials such as aluminum foil for sachets, cartons, plastics, and holograms. There were also some simple production tools at that location.

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