Analisis Kandungan Timbal (Pb) pada Makanan Gorengan dan Karakteristik Pembeli di Kecamatan Medan Helvetia Kota Medan Tahun 2024

Abstract

Fried foods are easily found on the side of the road and sold in the open without a cover, allowing lead (Pb) pollution to occur. The purpose of this study was to determine the content of Lead (Pb) in fried foods and the characteristics of buyers in Medan Helvetia Subdistrict, Medan City in 2024. This study is a quantitative descriptive survey with a cross-sectional approach, involving 100 fried food buyers selected through accidental sampling. Additionally, 10 fried food samples were analyzed in the laboratory. The findings revealed that most buyers were male (56%), with the highest age group being 44-50 years (20%). A significant portion of buyers (42%) were categorized as obese according to their Body Mass Index (BMI). The most common frequency of purchasing fried foods was once a week (20%), and the typical quantity bought per purchase was two or three pieces (26% each). Laboratory tests using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) indicated that all fried food samples contained Pb, with one sample showing a Pb level of 3124 mg/kg, far exceeding the permissible limit set by BPOM regulation No. 9 of 2022, which is 0.25 mg/kg. The study recommends that street vendors maintain a minimum distance of 2 meters from the roadside and use food covers to minimize contamination. Consumers are advised to be more cautious when purchasing fried foods from street vendors and to limit their consumption to avoid exceeding the allowable daily intake (ADI) of contaminants.