Jakarta – The government continues to tighten oversight of the implementation of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) to ensure that the food received by students meets proper quality, safety, and nutritional standards. In a press conference held at the Ministry of Health Building, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that his office plays a central role in comprehensive oversight of the program’s implementation.
“We want to standardize reports and case numbers,” Budi said.
He explained that the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), along with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), will consolidate daily and weekly data regarding the potential for food poisoning in schools. The government also plans to publish regular publications, as was done during the COVID-19 pandemic, to increase transparency and public awareness.
Regarding food safety, Budi stated that the government will implement three types of certification for all food providers under the MBG program: the Hygiene Sanitation Certificate (SLHS), the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certification, and the halal certification. This certification process is designed to be expedited and not hinder food distribution.
“The Ministry of Health, together with the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the National Nutrition Agency (BPN), will be part of an integrated certification system to ensure that the nutritious food distributed is safe and meets standards,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health is also preparing a responsive external monitoring system to ensure any potential disruptions are addressed quickly and appropriately. According to Budi, this monitoring will not only be carried out internally but also involve cross-sectoral stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and local governments.
“The Ministry of Health’s collaborative role here is to conduct external monitoring of those implementing this strategy,” he explained.
To strengthen early detection, the Ministry of Health will establish rapid response groups in each region, consisting of the Health Office, regional general hospitals, and school health unit units.
“We want to ensure the entire system is able to respond quickly so that the community remains safe,” Budi said.
Regarding monitoring at the receiving end, namely schools and Islamic boarding schools, the Ministry of Health will coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The School Health Unit (UKS) will be empowered to conduct initial food inspections before students consume them.
“We will also provide simple education so students and teachers can identify safe foods,” said Budi.
In addition to ensuring food safety, the government will also monitor students’ nutritional status regularly. Student height and weight measurements will be conducted every six months and recorded by name and address to ensure accurate and actionable data. The national nutrition survey, which previously only targeted toddlers, will also be expanded to include school-age children.
“This national nutrition survey will later be expanded to include children over five years old, especially schoolchildren,” said Budi.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan also emphasized the importance of the Ministry of Health’s role in ensuring the quality of the MBG program. He acknowledged that the program still faces challenges on the ground, but the government has demonstrated its full commitment to improving its implementation.
“Of course there are challenges and shortcomings, but the government’s commitment is clear: respond quickly, improve the system, and strengthen MBG governance comprehensively,” said Zulkifli.
He also emphasized that the MBG is not just a food aid program, but rather part of fulfilling the basic right of Indonesian children to adequate nutrition.
“MBG is a fundamental right of citizens to ensure adequate nutrition and adequate food intake so they can become a superior generation in the future,” he concluded.
