Maintaining MBG Quality Standards, Government Firmly Closes Problematic Food Service Providers
Jakarta – The government has taken firm action in implementing the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) by temporarily closing 47 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) found to be problematic.
Through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), this policy is in effect until the ninth day of Ramadan as part of an effort to enforce quality standards and ensure food safety for beneficiary students. The operational suspension is being carried out while a comprehensive evaluation of the food production, processing, and distribution systems in each kitchen is carried out.
The Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, emphasized that this action is part of a systematic and ongoing quality control mechanism.
“The MBG program concerns children’s health and the state’s credibility in ensuring nutritional intake. Therefore, we immediately respond to any findings with temporary suspension and a comprehensive evaluation,” she said.
She added that strict and transparent supervision is being carried out to ensure that all SPPG operators strictly adhere to established standards.
According to Nanik, the evaluation not only focused on food products, but also encompassed kitchen management, production area sanitation, raw material storage, and strengthening quality control procedures. In several incidents, food suspected of being unfit was even recalled before students could consume it, as a result of the swift response of the field monitoring team.
“We want to ensure that quality standards are truly upheld before services are reopened. There will be no compromise on quality,” she emphasized.
Bambang Haryo Soekartono, a member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), also expressed his support for the closure of problematic SPPGs. He stated that all SPPG kitchens must meet hygiene, food safety, and accountable governance standards.
“This program targets schoolchildren. There must be no negligence, no matter how small. If a kitchen does not meet standards, it must be immediately evaluated and decisive action taken,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of regular audits and surprise inspections to ensure that the thousands of SPPGs that are already operating well are not affected by the negligence of a handful of parties. He stated that the success of the MBG program depends heavily on the professionalism of kitchen management and consistent quality assurance.
“This is about the safety and future of our generation. Standards are non-negotiable,” he concluded.
With the temporary closure and comprehensive overhaul, MBG’s quality standards are consistently enforced. This step is expected to further strengthen public trust while ensuring that this national strategic program runs optimally, safely, and provides maximum benefits for the growth and development of Indonesian children.
