Changed pork similar to beef with borax, how come?

KOMPAS.com – About 63 tons of pork is packaged to resemble beef and sold in Bandung. It is a lively conversation on social networks.

Previously reported, four actors changed the color of pork to resemble borax beef.

Borax is a chemical found in household products such as detergents, plastics, wood furniture, and cosmetics.

In this regard, Kompas.com also contacted the toxicology expert at the University of Indonesia (UI), Dr. Rer. Nat Budiawan.

Also read: A year, the actors sell 63 tons of beef and pork in Bandung

Budiawan said that borax is a preservative commonly used in the industrial world and is somewhat alkaline.

“The expected reaction (with borax) is a change in color (in meat),” Budiawan told Kompas.com on Tuesday (05/12/2020).

Generally, people who use borax are techniques that dip certain foods in a borax solution and then dry them.

“I guess the expected change (making the color of the meat) is not too pale, because this borax is quite alkaline,” Budiawan said.

According to Budiawan, the interesting thing about this case is that the author had the idea to change the texture of the meat with borax marinade.

He said that in addition to changing the color to pale, the borax marinade also changed the thickness of the pork to look like beef in general.

“That is also great. It occurred to him to try (borax) and in the scientific field it can be said that one does not think in that direction,” Budiawan said, commenting while laughing.

“Maybe initially because borax is easy to get (on the market). So he tried to use it. Usually (using borax) is soaked. And it is successful, what is interesting is how meat in general “he added.

He continued, borax meat actually has a chewy texture that is still different from fresh meat in general.