Can Indonesia Get Patent on 'Bakso'?

The Department of Culture and Tourism advised the Indonesian Noodles and Meatballs Merchant Association (Apmiso) to trace the history of 'bakso' (meatball, usually served with broth) before claiming it as a unique Indonesian cuisine.

"We've ask for its history (of bakso) to be traced first before claiming it as a traditional Indonesian cuisine," said the director general for tourism destination development of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Firmansyah Rahim, Jakarta, Monday.

The statement was addressed for Apmiso, in regards to its plan to claim bakso as an Indonesian cuisine and to go international with the idea.