By: Rivka Mayangsari*)
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is one of the government’s flagship programs to ensure Indonesian children receive healthy, safe, and nutritious food. This program is part of a major effort to build a strong, physically and mentally golden generation. Despite conflicting rumors regarding food poisoning, the government firmly ensures that the MBG program always meets hygiene and safety standards. In response, the government emphasized that all processes within the MBG program prioritize hygiene and food safety, as well as strict, standardized procedures.
Deputy Minister of Health (Wamenkes) Dante Saksono Harbuwono emphasized that the government has prepared thorough precautions to prevent food poisoning cases. He explained that one form of this precaution is the opening of MBG kitchens that are completely clean and meet hygienic standards. According to Dante, he even personally visited several MBG kitchens to ensure their quality.
He emphasized that the key to preventing food poisoning is maintaining cleanliness, ensuring food hygiene, and implementing proper processing standards. He further emphasized that MBG is not simply providing food to children, but also carries out a nutritional education mission to encourage them to adopt healthy eating habits in their daily lives. According to Dante, the quality of the food served is always ensured to be fresh, hygienic, and safe for consumption, so that the potential for food poisoning can be minimized as much as possible. He also added that in a number of cases, suspected poisoning actually stemmed from individual allergies, which some had mistaken for food poisoning, and this has been clarified through official clarification.
The Head of SPPG Sedulur Sewu, Mad Khotib, also emphasized his commitment to food safety standards. He stated that his team always works in accordance with applicable standard operating procedures (SOPs). From kitchen preparation to distribution of food to beneficiaries, all stages are carefully monitored and measured.
Every day, before starting work, all kitchen workers attend a briefing to ensure each step is carried out according to their respective duties and functions. This is done to maintain consistency and quality of service. Khotib added that the MBG program’s menu changes daily, using hygienic and hygienic ingredients. This way, beneficiaries can enjoy a varied and healthy diet, while quality and safety remain top priorities.
Nurya Hartika, Head of the Palembang Nutrition Fulfillment Service Office (KPPG), echoed this sentiment. She emphasized that the MBG program represents the government’s effort to ensure that the public, especially school children, receive nutritious and safe food. She stated that food safety standards in this program are absolute and non-negotiable. Therefore, every kitchen manager is required to undertake comprehensive improvements to ensure that the food served is truly safe for consumption.
Nurya explained that these improvements are not merely a formality, but a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring that food distributed to the public is free from health risks. The OKI MG Task Force even emphasized the importance of concrete efforts in this regard, from kitchen management and standardization of food production processes to waste management systems. All of these aspects are considered crucial to maintaining the long-term sustainability of the MBG program.
As part of ongoing monitoring, the MBG kitchen in Menang Raya Village serves as a model for implementing strict procedures. The kitchen is only permitted to resume operations after obtaining a hygiene and sanitation certificate from the authorities. This certificate serves as a guarantee that the kitchen has met all hygiene, health, and food preparation requirements.
Furthermore, technical assistance is provided to kitchen managers so that they understand food production procedures according to standards and can maintain cleanliness and hygiene at every level of operation. With this assistance, the government hopes that the MBG kitchen will not only operate temporarily but will be able to maintain its quality consistently and sustainably.
The evaluation, improvement, and assistance measures undertaken by the government demonstrate that the MBG program focuses not only on the quantity of food provided, but also on the quality and safety of the food received by the community. Thus, the program’s primary goal, improving the nutrition and health of the community, especially the younger generation, can be optimally achieved.
Through this commitment,With strong government support, strict oversight from relevant institutions, and public support, the MBG program is expected to be a crucial instrument in shaping a healthy, intelligent, and highly competitive generation of Indonesians. Furthermore, the government’s clear clarification of the food poisoning issue also demonstrates its transparency in maintaining public trust.
Ultimately, the MBG program is not simply a food distribution program, but a major movement to improve the quality of life for the community. By ensuring that every meal served is hygienic, nutritious, and free from contamination, the government demonstrates its commitment to protecting public health and building a stronger future for the nation.
*) Public Health Observer
