Jakarta — The government ensures that the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is continuously improved so that its implementation becomes increasingly high-quality.
Comprehensive evaluations are conducted to guarantee that children receive nutritious, halal, and safe food, making this program a true long-term investment in Indonesia’s human resource development.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that every incident in the field will be used as evaluation material, not as a reason to stop the program.
He also apologized for cases that had caused public concern.
“Our target is zero incidents. Therefore, kitchen management and distribution will continue to be improved,” he said.
In line with this, Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, explained the concrete steps taken.
According to her, an investigation team consisting of chemistry experts has been formed to trace the causes of reported poisoning cases, along with a dedicated hotline for the public to report quickly.
“We are serious. The investigation team will work directly on the ground,” she asserted.
BGN also strengthens management aspects at the implementation level.
All Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) are required to undergo regular food handler training, while kitchen staff must undergo health checks to prevent disease transmission.
The government even targets establishing SPPG service offices in nearly every regency by 2026 to shorten the supervision chain.
Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuously improve the program.
He rejected notions that MBG would be discontinued.
“There is no plan to stop it. On the contrary, we will ensure stricter implementation so incidents do not recur,” he said.
With these various measures, the government aims to restore public trust while emphasizing that MBG is not a threat but a real solution to improve the nutritional quality of the nation’s children.
Ongoing evaluation, strict supervision, and community involvement are key to ensuring that President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program truly benefits all regions.