Jakarta — The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program continues to be strengthened as a national strategic policy that focuses not only on nutritional fulfillment but also on ensuring food security for all beneficiaries. The government has emphasized that hygiene certification is the primary standard for implementing the MBG program throughout Indonesia.
More than 4,500 nutrition service providers (SPPG) or MBG providers have been certified as having good hygiene and sanitation (SLHS) standards. This standard is established to ensure that all food produced, processed, and distributed meets the principles of cleanliness, health, and food safety as required by applicable regulations.
“This SLSH is one of the government’s tightening measures to reduce the likelihood of an increase in food poisoning cases through the provision of free nutritious food,” said Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus.
The emphasis on hygiene certification is a response to the vast scale of the MBG program, which involves many stakeholders, from food suppliers and production kitchens to distribution channels to schools, educational facilities, and other service points. With millions of meals prepared daily, food safety is crucial to achieving the goal of improving community nutrition without creating new health risks.
Hygiene certification under the MBG program covers the entire process chain, from raw material selection and storage to processing and serving. Every MBG kitchen is required to meet strict sanitation requirements, including cleanliness of the work environment, cooking equipment, waste management systems, and the health and hygiene of food handlers.
This standard was developed to minimize the potential for biological, chemical, and physical contamination that could harm consumers. The government also ensures that the certification process is carried out in a measurable and sustainable manner.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stated that thousands of SPPG kitchens that do not yet have SLHS should register immediately or the kitchens will be closed (suspended).
“I urge you, partners, to register immediately, or if we find out you haven’t, we will suspend you. Cry, because you’ll lose Rp 6 million in one day,” said Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, Deputy Head of the National Land Agency (BGN), at the 2026 New Year’s Spirit event in South Jakarta on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).
Through the implementation of strict hygiene standards and continuous monitoring, the MBG program is expected to provide optimal benefits, strengthen the quality of human resources, and build public trust in national food and nutrition policies.