BLITAR – Packaged food monitoring has intensified in Blitar Regency as local trade officials increase inspections ahead of Eid to protect consumers from inaccurate product weights and volumes.

The checks aim to protect consumers from inaccurate product weights and volumes during a period when household demand usually rises. Inspection teams now focus on packaged staple goods sold in retail markets and distribution centers.

The priority list includes rice, cooking oil, sugar, and flour because these items dominate consumer purchases before the holiday.

Rica Noviandari, head of the metrology division at the regional trade office, said packaged staples remain the main concern during seasonal monitoring.

“Packaged goods are our main focus because public demand for packaged rice and cooking oil rises sharply before Eid. We must ensure consumers receive exactly what they pay for,” she said.

Officers carry out random checks on products already displayed for sale. They compare the net weight printed on each package with the actual contents inside.

The team also checks whether producers and repackaging businesses follow official measurement standards. Besides measuring quantity, officers review labels on each product. They verify producer identity, packaging details, and calibration validity.

Officials say accurate labeling helps consumers avoid hidden losses when buying essential goods.

So far, monitoring results show that most packaged products still meet compliance standards. Officers have not found food products with contents far below the tolerance limit.

Even so, the trade office continues to educate business operators. Many small repackaging businesses still need reminders to maintain precision during packaging.

“If we find discrepancies that exceed the tolerance limit, we will impose sanctions ranging from warnings to product withdrawal from the market,” Rica added.

Officials believe early supervision helps prevent wider violations before holiday demand peaks. They also asked residents to shop carefully and inspect packaging before purchase.

Consumers should check seals, read labels, and report suspicious products if they find unusual weight differences in markets across Indonesia.