Last Updated: 9 months ago
Students of the Community Service Program (KKN) of the Faculty of Islamic Religion and Teacher Education (FAIPG) of Djuanda University (UNIDA) Group 18 of Sukamantri Village held a Socialization on the introduction of stunting & Borax Content Test in Food using Turmeric (Curcuma longa) (07/08/2025).
The importance of increasing public knowledge regarding early stunting prevention and awareness of food safety, particularly the dangers of borax in food. Stunting remains a health problem that impacts child growth and development, while borax is a hazardous chemical often misused as a food preservative. Through this activity, the community gained insight into balanced nutrition, good parenting practices, and a simple method for testing borax content using turmeric solution. The goal of this activity was to provide scientifically based health education and practical skills so that the community can maintain family health while avoiding hazardous food ingredients.
Kusnandar, as the Head of Sukamantri Village, in his remarks expressed his appreciation for the socialization activities.
"As the village head, I greatly appreciate the activities carried out by the Community Service Program (KKN) students from Group 18 of Djuanda University. Education about stunting and the dangers of borax is crucial for our community, especially parents and food business owners. I hope the knowledge gained can be put into practice to better secure the health and future of the children in Sukamantri Village," he said.
Nia Lusmiati, as the Head of the Sukamantri Village Posyandu Cadre, in her speech expressed her gratitude for the implementation of the activity.
"We are very grateful for this outreach. The material presented was very clear and easy to understand, both about balanced nutrition for preventing stunting and how to test borax with turmeric. We hope this knowledge can be applied in our respective homes. each and distributed to other residents," he said
Continued with the presentation of material presented by Annissa Mawardini, M,Pd, who was delegated to Riska Pratiwi
"From an Islamic perspective, children are a trust whose growth and development must be optimally cared for. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) exemplified the importance of breastfeeding, choosing halal and thayyib foods, and providing loving parenting. From a scientific perspective, stunting prevention begins in the first 1,000 days of life through balanced nutrition, immunization, good environmental sanitation, and growth and development stimulation. Handling stunting
"It requires collaboration between families, health workers, and the community so that children can grow up healthy, intelligent, and have good morals," he said.
Niki Hidayanti, as the Head of the Sukamantri Village Integrated Health Post (Posyandu) PPL, in delivering her material, spoke about stunting.
"Stunting occurs due to prolonged nutritional deficiencies, repeated infections, and inadequate parenting. The role of families is crucial, especially in ensuring children receive nutritious food, a clean environment, and regular access to healthcare," he said.
Anjani Sudrajat, in his presentation of the material, conveyed the dangers of borax
“Borax is a dangerous chemical that is prohibited for use in food because it can damages organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and brain, especially in children. Abuse Borax is commonly used to make food more chewy, durable, and visually appealing, but its long-term effects are very detrimental to health. In this activity, we introduce a simple and inexpensive method for detecting borax: turmeric (Curcuma longa) solution. The turmeric's reddish-brown color upon contact with food containing borax is a warning sign for consumers. With this knowledge, the public is expected to be more critical and selective in choose food, and be able to protect the family from the threat of these dangerous materials," he said.
The hope is that these activities will raise awareness among the residents of Sukamantri Village about stunting prevention and food safety. Residents will be able to adopt a balanced, nutritious diet, maintain environmental cleanliness, and independently detect hazardous substances like borax in food. Going forward, stunting rates are expected to decline and the use of borax in food sold in the village will be eliminated.