Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen synergistic measures across ministries and agencies to ensure the sustainability and safety of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG). Integrated supervision is the primary focus to ensure that every stage, from kitchen processing and food distribution to food quality, meets established standards.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that BGN, together 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 strengthen supervision across all regions. Strict supervision is necessary to ensure that every Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) adheres to the principles of healthy, nutritious, and safe food.
“BGN, together with relevant ministries, is tightening MBG operational standards through routine inspections and kitchen verification. Every SPPG must be able to guarantee healthy, nutritious, balanced, and safe food. That is the core of this program,” said Dadan.
Dadan added that currently, more than 10,000 SPPGs are operating in 38 provinces, with Central Java being one of the regions with the highest number of SPPGs, with 1,596 SPPGs. The MBG program not only impacts children’s health but also provides a significant boost to the regional economy.
“The State Budget (BGN) investment flowing into Central Java reaches around IDR 32 trillion per year. The impact is tremendous for the local food industry, from ingredient suppliers and food tray manufacturers to milk producers,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi emphasized the importance of maintaining food safety at every stage of the MBG implementation. Furthermore, all food service kitchens were asked to tighten their processing, hygiene, and food supervision to prevent future food poisoning cases.
“We hope that yesterday’s incidents will not happen again. Because this is a structural program, we must implement it responsibly,” said Luthfi.
Similarly, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian reminded all regional heads to tighten their supervision of MBG service kitchens. According to him, the issuance of Hygienic Sanitation Certificates (SLHS) cannot be done haphazardly, but must be based on on-site inspections.
“SLHS supervision must be proper and thoroughly checked. We must ensure that kitchens that do not meet standards are still approved,” Tito stated while opening the cross-ministerial Coordination Meeting at IPDN Jatinangor, Sumedang, on Monday (October 27th).
He also requested that Health Offices in all regions actively monitor and provide assistance to MBG providers to ensure that food processing is truly hygienic and safe for students to consume.
“Synergy across institutions and regions is expected to strengthen public trust that the MBG Program is run professionally, transparently, and oriented towards community welfare,” he concluded.
