Jakarta — The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is being continuously evaluated to ensure food quality is increasingly assured and meets health standards. The government is prioritizing improvements in the quality of food ingredients, the food distribution process, and supervision to ensure this program truly has a tangible impact on children’s growth and development.
Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, stated that a comprehensive evaluation of the MBG program’s implementation is crucial. The House of Representatives will carry out its oversight function to the fullest to ensure the government-initiated program is safe and beneficial for the community.
“In our oversight function, of course, we will conduct monitoring in areas where problems occur. For example, the evaluation must be comprehensive, encompassing the entire food supply chain,” said Puan.
Puan explained that the MBG program is one of the government’s strategic policies to improve the nutritional quality of the nation’s children. Therefore, the success of this program is crucial and must be maintained through strict supervision and commitment from all parties involved.
“This program is an investment for future generations; it must not be harmed by technical negligence,” she said.
For example, in the field, the Nutrition Program Implementation Unit (SPPG) managers continue to improve their MBG food production to ensure it meets the standards of suitability and safety for consumption. The SPPG of the Kemala Bhayangkari Foundation (YKB) of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Kemala Bhayangkari) serves as an example for its strict and measurable implementation standards.
The Head of the SPPG YKB of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Aldi, revealed that his institution had received an award from the National Nutrition Agency as the Best Independent Kitchen in Central Sulawesi, which was received on September 16, 2025, in Jakarta.
“Every day before the food is distributed, we conduct rapid tests for formaldehyde, nitrite, arsenic, and cyanide to ensure that all menu items are safe for consumption,” Aldi explained.
Furthermore, the SPPG YKB also implements high hygiene and sanitation standards and certified 30 food handlers, nutritionists, and volunteers on October 25, 2025, at the Sriti Convention Hall in West Palu.
“By implementing these standards, it is hoped that all MBG implementers in Indonesia can follow the steps taken by the SPPG YKB Polda Sulteng to prevent further poisoning cases,” he concluded.
