Indonesia eyes ‘fish milk’ for Prabowo's free meals scheme, but some experts aren’t biting
Made from fish protein hydrolysate, “fish milk” has been touted as a potential alternative to cow’s milk in the upcoming government’s signature free meals programme meant to combat child stunting.
"Fish milk" product in Indonesia. (Photo: Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs)
13 Sep 2024 04:35PM (Updated: 14 Sep 2024 08:51AM)
JAKARTA: A proposal to replace cow’s milk with “fish milk” in Indonesia’s upcoming free meals programme for students has fed online debate among Indonesians and caused a stink with some nutrition experts.
The signature 71-trillion rupiah (US$4.6 billion) “free nutritious food for children” programme, touted by president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice-president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka during their campaign as a solution to eradicate child stunting, will be rolled out once they take office in October.
It aims to provide lunch daily for all children in the country and is expected to officially start in January 2025.
Reports of using “fish milk” for the programme began earlier this month, when the president director of local food company ID Food, Apik Wijayanto, said that studies were being done to assess alternatives to cow’s milk.
“There may be alternative products that can replace cow’s milk. Everything is under study. For example, milk from fish is also available,” he told reporters on Sep 4 in Jakarta, as quoted in regional media.
It has been reported that the state-owned ID Food will be involved in rolling out Mr Prabowo’s meal plan.
The news spread intrigue and scepticism from netizens, who felt there was something fishy about the potential new drink.
Besides the obvious question of how “milk” could come from fish, Indonesians on social media also wondered if the fish product is merely a gimmick that would cost more than simply serving fish as part of the free meal.
“Won’t the need for processing increase the cost further?” asked an X user with the handle @gincu.
“If ‘fish milk’ comes from fish protein, then why not just eat the fish?” echoed another X user who went by the name Aditya.
The “fish milk” in question actually refers to a food product processed from fish protein.
The drink is made by processing fish protein hydrolysate to produce a protein drink with high nutritional value similar to milk from mammals.
It is available in various flavours such as chocolate and strawberry without a fishy taste.
The use of the term “milk” is aimed at attracting market interest by identifying it as a nutritious drink.
According to local media outlet Tirto, fish milk was introduced last year by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries together with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs as part of the downstreaming of fishery products.
This initiative emerged because Indonesia, although rich in resources, still imports plenty of foreign products including cows and dairy products.
With abundant fish potential, fish milk is considered as an alternative substitute.
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HEALTH BENEFITS OR GIMMICK?
Ms Puji Lestari, an agricultural expert at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said the product has certain health benefits over cow’s milk.
"The advantage compared to regular cow's milk is that it does not contain allergens if you are allergic to lactose. So, it is safe for people with lactose intolerance, because fish does not contain lactose," Ms Puji told the Antara news agency on Wednesday (Sep 11).
According to Ms Puji, “fish milk” has both essential and nonessential amino acids, as well as peptides that are great for the body’s immunity. It is easy on the digestive system and if made from fatty fish, the product will contain omega-3 fatty acids.
“I do admit that the term ‘milk’ might not be right. But considering its health benefits and its enormous potential to be developed in Indonesia as a maritime country, this product can be a diversification of protein-rich products to replace cow's milk,” Ms Puji said.
She added: “Especially since we still cannot produce enough cow’s milk domestically.”
An expert from the Department of Community Nutrition at IPB University, Professor Hardinsyah, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the definition of “milk” should be clarified.
"So, ‘fish milk’ is more appropriately called ‘fish extract’ or ‘analogue fish milk’," said Prof Hardinsyah on Wednesday, as quoted by Kompas.
“Milk fish” producer Berikan Protein Initiative’s CEO Maqbulatin Nuha on Tuesday said the nutritional content of one glass of fish milk is equivalent to two glasses of cow's milk, as reported by local media outlet Tribun.
But Prof Hardinsyah, who is also chief of the Association of Indonesian Higher-Education Institutions for Nutrition, said that while the product’s macronutrients may be able to replace the macronutrients found in cow's milk, its micronutrient content may be different.
Macronutrients are nutrients needed in larger quantities, such as fat, protein and carbohydrates. Micronutrients are mostly vitamins and minerals, and are generally consumed in very small amounts.
A clinical specialist for nutrition at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, which is also the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine, Nurul Ratna Mutu Manikam, said that milk is only complementary to one’s nutritional intake.
A balanced nutritional intake obtained from direct consumption of animal protein from whole foods such as chicken, beef and egg, is more effective and practical to meet children’s nutrition needs, she added.
Prof Hardinsyah questioned the sustainability of fish extract products as a lot of fish are needed to produce the required amount of fish extract.
"It should not be the case that because a lot of fish are used, the price of fish in the market is affected. If the price of fish becomes expensive, it will reduce people's purchasing power such that fish consumption will also decrease in the community," he said.
"Consuming fish directly as a whole is also better and more practical than having to be processed into milk," said Dr Nurul, as reported by Kompas on Wednesday.
The latest controversy has cast doubt on the viability of the free meals programme.
“I’d respect it if they admit their planning mistake, rather than trying to salvage the programme by hook or by crook and making it look really forced - with all the talk of milk, eggs, fish milk - maybe tomorrow tadpole chips,” quipped X user @catlover17081.
A politician from Mr Prabowo’s Gerindra party, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that replacing cow's milk with “fish milk” was an idea that came from the ground up, adding that the policy is still in the trial stage.
"So, these alternatives are aspirations from the community or the results of existing trials that are not final," said Mr Dasco on Thursday.
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Source: Others/jt(ao)
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