Several religious organizations and domestic industry associations are urging the government to tighten oversight of imported cutlery products following laboratory findings in China indicating that some imported cutlery products use pork grease-based lubricants in their production.

Wafa Riansyah, Deputy Secretary of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim Organization Jakarta chapter, expressed his support for President Prabowo Subianto's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. However, he strongly opposes the use of imported products that are potentially non-halal.

"We found positive evidence of the use of pork fat in China. Therefore, today we submitted a report to the Ministry of Trade, urging them to stop importing products suspected of using this ingredient," Wafa SAID after a dialogue with the Ministry of Trade in Jakarta on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Wafa emphasized that NU Jakarta is ready to take responsibility for this statement, both in this world and the hereafter. However, he also appreciated the assurance from the Halal Product Certification Agency (BPJPH) that products entering Indonesia are guaranteed halal.

"This is good news. However, strict supervision must remain to ensure that no food-grade products that do not meet standards enter the MBG kitchen," he said.

Laboratory test results

Head of the Rabithah Ma'ahid Islamiyah (RMI) NU Jakarta, Rakhmad Zaelani Kiki, cited that the findings came from laboratory tests in China. Previously, testing had been conducted at Sucofindo, but the existing method was unable to detect pork fat.

"After testing in two laboratories in China, the results were positive for pork fat. We have submitted the lab reports to the Ministry of Trade," he said.

From the industry perspective, Ardy Susanto, Secretary General of the Indonesian Food Container Manufacturers Association (Apmaki), assured that domestic producers are capable of meeting national demand without having to import.

According to him, the production capacity of association members can reach 10 million to 12.5 million units per month, in accordance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) and halal certification.

"Using animal fat-based lubricants can indeed reduce costs, but our members are committed to using only vegetable lubricants. This commitment is important for the community's peace of mind," Ardy said.

Ardy also warned that some imported products have been proven to use type 201 stainless steel with a high manganese content, up to 9 percent. This material, he said, should be used for construction, not tableware, because it carries the risk of releasing hazardous metals into the body.

"For tableware, 304 material should be used, with a manganese content of only around 2 percent. This is why import controls must be stricter," he said.

Various parties believe this case should be an opportunity for the government to rely more on the domestic industry. According to Wafa, there are at least 25 local producers ready to meet the needs of the MBG program.

"If the need is 10 million units, the local industry is capable. So why import? This is the time for us to become economically self-sufficient while ensuring halal certification," Wafa said.