“The best interest of the child must be the guiding principle in implementing the MBG program,” said Atnike Nova Sigiro, coordinator of Komnas HAM’s Sub-commission on Human Rights Promotion, in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Presidential Decree No. 36 of 1990, which ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, affirms Indonesia’s recognition of a child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health, including access to safe and nutritious food.
Indonesia also guarantees the right to an adequate standard of living, including food, under Law No. 11 of 2005, which ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Atnike stressed that food availability must consider not only quantity but also quality, cultural acceptability, and freedom from harmful substances.
She said the principle of adequacy requires food safety measures to prevent contamination from poor environmental conditions.
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Key factors, she noted, include cleanliness of ingredients, food preparation, distribution timing, and supply chain handling.
In response to food poisoning cases linked to the MBG program, Komnas HAM urged program organizers and relevant ministries to adhere to human rights principles.
Beyond ensuring food availability and safety, Komnas HAM also called for swift, transparent, and fair complaint and redress mechanisms for victims.
It specifically urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), local governments, and the Health Ministry to safeguard food consumed by MBG beneficiaries.
BGN should conduct a thorough review and overhaul of MBG governance in an accountable, transparent, and participatory manner to prevent future cases, Atnike said.
Komnas HAM also asked BGN to evaluate nutrition service units (SPPG) suspected of negligence in food production, distribution, and serving.
“The government must establish an independent multi-stakeholder oversight mechanism for the MBG program,” Atnike added.
In a press conference on Friday (September 26), the BGN reported that 70 food poisoning cases in the MBG program were recorded from January to September 2025, with 5,914 beneficiaries affected.
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Translator: Fath Putra, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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