SUMMARY
Based on Health Ministry of Republic of Indonesia regulation No722/Menkes/ IX/1988, Borat Acid and its compound is one of food additives that prohibited in food product, because borat acid and its compound is carcinogenic. Although ii is hazardous to human health, its usage as food additive is still remain high, by the community, as preservative, also to enhance texture of meatball and kerupuk to be more elastic and enjoyable to consumer. The objective of this study was to find out the factors related to borax usage behaviour on meatball by seller. This study conducted in Sub District of Pondok Gede, Bekasi in 2003. Population in this cross sectional study was all meatball sellers in housing area in the study area. Inclusion criteria were sellers who make their own beef meatballs. Observed variables were borax usage behaviour, age, education level, knowledge of food additives, attitude to borax usage, selling experience, capital, health education, and monitoring. Respondents observed were 100 sellers. Results of this study showed that proportion of borax usage in stalls sellers was 38% (CI 90%:28.49-45.97). The most dominant factor related to behaviour of borax usage in this study was health education given to all sellers. In stall sellers OR value was 2.433 (CI:90% 1,108-5.342) which mean sellers who never received health education tend to use borax 2,43 times as compared to those who has received education.