January 27, 2006 @ 4:02pm. I haven’t heard the term “formaldehyde” used in a very long time. I probably heard it last while in high school in biology class. It turns out that formaldehyde is a hot topic in Indonesia right now. Though there has yet to be a formal government warning, rumors have spread about the dangers of formaldehyde-treated food. Certain fish (e.g., salted fish), tofu, meatballs (made from mixed meats or seafood), and noodles (think “Ramen”) - all major foods for Indonesians - may be treated with formaldehyde at some point during processing. It is not yet clear how “contaminated” the food is or what the consequences are for people who ingest such food. I have heard that the fear is negatively affecting local food vendors and fishermen. I’ve also heard that this isn’t a new controversy, but it has taken on a more serious tone this time around. An interesting note was included in a letter to the editor in the Jakarta Post today: “Some people call Indonesia a ‘formaldehyde country.’ It is worth noting that in the U.S. half a century ago, formaldehyde was used to preserve cow milk.”
I’ve also heard through the grapevine that there are plans in the works for a monorail in Jakarta. Wouldn’t that be something? There are concerns, however, about the potential effects of monorail construction and maintenance on the local environment and people.
I had a productive meeting today with Professor Liddle. I really need to work on narrowing my topic and research questions down, though. I have a lot more reading and brainstorming to do…
