He stressed that the availability of these kits is part of the standard operating procedures that all SPPGs must follow to prevent further food poisoning incidents.
“We are proud of the 30 million MBG recipients, but we are concerned about the food poisoning cases. We have created standard procedures, requiring all equipment to be thoroughly cleaned, along with testing kits and other preventive measures before distribution,” Prabowo said on Monday.
He noted that the MBG program has reached 30 million beneficiaries so far, including students, toddlers, and pregnant women. However, the government is still far from the target of 82 million recipients.
“As President, I am saddened that 50 million children and pregnant women are still waiting. We cannot accelerate the process too quickly because irregularities could happen. If we rush, there could be even more irregularities,” he added.
The irregularities referred to were violations of food safety procedures by several SPPGs, which led to dozens of poisoning cases affecting more than 5,000 MBG recipients between January and September 2025.
The free nutritious meals program, a flagship initiative of President Prabowo, was launched on January 6, 2025, with a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries by the end of the year.
Separately, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) reported last week that from January to September 2025, there were 70 food safety incidents affecting 5,914 MBG recipients.
The main causes included E. coli in water, rice, tofu, and chicken; Staphylococcus aureus in tempeh and meatballs; Salmonella in chicken, eggs, and vegetables; Bacillus cereus in noodles; and coliform, PB, Klebsiella, and Proteus in contaminated water.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
