ANALISIS RHODAMIN B DALAM MAKANAN JAJANAN PASAR DI KOTA PEKANBARU

Abstract

Rhodamine B dye is a synthetic form of crystal powder which is greenish, purplish red in soluble form at high concentrations and bright red color at low concentrations. It is often used as a textile dye, for coloring a food product, especially street peddler food. Rhodamine B can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and if inhaled, it can irritate the respiratory tract, skin, eye, and can cause cancer in humans. Street food that are often chosen snacks are with bright red color as found at Panam Market such as sugar confectionery, red crackers, layer cakes and cup cakes, while at the Kodim market such as red crackers, cakes and cake layers, getuk, whereas at the Arengka Market, street foods are selected such as sugar confectionery, cakes, crackers, red getuk. Rainbowcake samples from a famous pastry shop in the city of Pekanbaru, were also analyzed as case study due to the issue circulating among people about the samples. Based on a qualitative examination of Rhodamine B, the red cracker samples of Kodim market allegedly gave positive results when observed visually and under UV light with Rf value close to the standard (0.4285). The samples of cup cakes from Panam market showed Rf value close to the standard (0.4571). To clarify the allegations, a quantitative analysis was conducted using HPLC, apparently the two samples were not suspected of containing Rhodamine B dye. However another kind of dye was found by comparing the retention times between samples with the standards. This dye that was used by the merchant is not known whether allowed or not according to No.PERMENKES.722/Menkes/Per/IX/1998.