JAKARTA – The government, through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening integrated monitoring of the implementation of the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) Program throughout Indonesia. This step was taken to ensure food safety, improve service quality, and maintain public trust in this flagship program targeting students, pregnant women, and toddlers.
The Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, stated that his agency, along with relevant ministries and institutions, will tighten operational standards for the MBG program through routine inspections and kitchen verification at all Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG).
“BGN, along with the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, will continue to work together to conduct integrated monitoring,” said Dadan.
Dadan emphasized that every SPPG kitchen is required to provide rapid food testing equipment, ensure the use of certified water, and provide CCTV footage of the kitchen as part of the central monitoring system.
“Every SPPG must be able to guarantee healthy, nutritious, balanced, and safe food. That is the core of this program,” he added.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi also emphasized the importance of inter-agency synergy in tightening supervision of the MBG. In a coordination meeting with the National Food Security Agency (BGN) at the Jatidiri Sports Hall in Semarang, he emphasized that food safety is non-negotiable.
“Hopefully, the incidents (poisoning) yesterday will not happen again, because this is a structural program that we must maintain,” he said before more than 4,000 meeting participants, consisting of regents, mayors, and SPPG partners.
Luthfi requested that all regional heads actively inspect MBG kitchens and ensure transparency in supervision. He also encouraged the Health Office to tighten field verification and ensure all kitchens have a Certificate of Hygiene and Sanitation (SLHS).
“SPPG cannot be exclusive. They must be ready to be inspected at any time. Even if a case arises, there must be a quick response to avoid causing panic,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Sumedang, Deputy Regent M. Fajar Aldila highlighted the importance of maintaining the quality of human resources (HR) implementing MBG. He also requested strict monitoring of raw food ingredients and that each kitchen upload activity documentation to the official regional government website for transparency.
“The majority of kitchen workers are women who work from early morning. If they are exhausted, the risk of human error is high. Therefore, their health must be monitored,” he said.
With integrated cross-sectoral supervision and active participation from regional governments, the MBG program is expected to continue running optimally and sustainably. Strong synergy is believed to be key to ensuring this national priority program truly provides maximum benefits for Indonesia’s future generations.
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