Unsuitable Food Items Found, Government Takes Firm Step to Shut Down Food Service Providers
Jakarta – The government has demonstrated its strong commitment to maintaining the quality of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) by taking firm action against the discovery of unfit food items. Several Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) have temporarily suspended operations as part of a strict and transparent quality control mechanism.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that the operational suspensions were implemented in response to food quality issues discovered in the field.
“We have suspended the operations of the SPPGs that experienced incidents, and the duration of the suspension depends on the severity of the incident,” said Dadan.
According to him, this decision was not a unilateral measure, but rather part of the quality control system for food distributed to beneficiaries. The duration of the suspension varies depending on the level of violation or problem found. If the case is deemed serious, the evaluation period will be longer.
This measure was taken following reports of health problems suspected to be related to the quality of MBG food. The government ensures that each report is thoroughly verified before a decision is made.
Dadan emphasized that the National Food Security Agency (BGN) is strengthening its quality control system, from raw material selection and processing to serving standards at each Food Safety and Nutrition Service Provider (SPPG). Furthermore, each service unit is required to be more transparent in providing information regarding food menus, nutritional values, and ingredient prices.
He also emphasized that food ingredients in the MBG program still prioritize local resources, but quality remains a top priority. If unsuitable food ingredients are found, distribution is requested to be postponed rather than forcing the distribution of food of questionable quality. He continued, BGN will not hesitate to suspend the operations of service units that do not meet food safety standards.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, stated that as of the 9th day of Ramadan, 47 SPPGs had temporarily suspended operations.
“We do not tolerate any deviations from food standards in this program. Every finding is immediately followed by a temporary suspension of operations for a thorough evaluation,” Nanik said.
She explained that the decision was made after a field verification process and a tiered report by the regional monitoring team. The evaluation covered not only food products, but also kitchen management, the distribution chain, and quality control procedures.
“The MBG program concerns children’s health and the country’s credibility in ensuring nutritional intake. Therefore, we are conducting strict and transparent oversight,” he emphasized.
This firm measure confirms that the government will not compromise on food quality and safety. With tightened oversight, the MBG is expected to remain a flagship program that ensures the health of the younger generation while maintaining public trust in the governance of the national program.
