At the 2025 Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali) held at Art Center Denpasar, the Bali Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BBPOM Bali) identified one chicken meat stall that fell short of hygiene standards. The stall openly displayed raw chicken on the counter, raising concerns about food safety.
“We provided guidance directly to the chicken-selling stall,” explained Ni Putu Ekayani, Head of Information and Communication Team BBPOM Denpasar, during an inspection on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Ekayani, alongside health officials from Bali’s Health Office and representatives from the Bali Cooperative and Small Business Office, visited several food and beverage stalls inside the Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar campus during their routine check.
Some vendors were found neglecting basic sanitary practices—failing to wear sterile gloves, aprons, or hair coverings—despite prior warnings issued days before the event.
Notably, a stall selling grilled chicken was spotted openly displaying raw chicken covered with tomato sauce and soy sauce, with flies frequently landing on the meat. Staff repeatedly waved them away when alerted by the officers.
“Raw chicken should not be left out at room temperature for extended periods as it increases the risk of biological contamination,” Ekayani emphasized.
Raw chicken poses a significant risk as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that can cause digestive issues, ranging from stomach aches to food poisoning, depending on individual health conditions.
For this reason, officials demanded the removal of the raw meat from display and recommended vendors pre-cook the chicken by boiling it at home before grilling and selling it onsite.
“Boiling beforehand helps reduce bacterial presence. After that, the chicken should be stored in a cool place or cool box. Only grilling the amount needed when a customer orders keeps it safer,” she added.
Serving fully cooked chicken dramatically lowers the chance of biological contamination, ensuring safer consumption for festival visitors.
Safety Assurance: 20 Food Samples Tested
In addition to on-site inspections, 20 food samples from the festival’s culinary area were collected and sent for laboratory testing. Results confirmed all samples were safe, free from harmful preservatives like borax, formalin, and Rhodamine B (a textile dye sometimes misused as food coloring).
“From these 20 samples tested, none contained Rhodamine B or textile dyes,” Ekayani reported.
Among the samples analyzed were traditional ketupat dishes, which tested borax-free, as well as meatballs, fish, and squid satay suspected of formalin contamination. Beverages were also screened for Rhodamine B—with no traces detected.
Many food vendors have committed to maintaining cleanliness and food safety standards. Those adhering to the guidelines have been awarded commitment stickers as proof of their dedication to protecting public health.
