“I have been instructed by the president to accelerate MBG because many parents are waiting for the meals,” BGN Chief Dadan Hindayana told a press conference at the Health Ministry.
“I will keep carrying out this mandate unless there is another order from the president,” he added.
Alongside investigations and system upgrades, BGN has directed all Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) to engage communities in trauma recovery for beneficiaries affected by recent food poisoning cases.
“SPPG leaders and partners must reach out to address trauma in communities, as every incident causes pain, parental anxiety, and public trust to be eroded,” Dadan said.
He confirmed that all medical costs for children hospitalized after MBG-related poisoning would be covered by BGN, while local governments may also claim treatment through insurance or the state health agency BPJS.
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Dadan stressed that every MBG kitchen must obtain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification accredited by the National Accreditation Committee (KAN), proving that proper food safety management is in place.
“We are preparing HACCP certification, which focuses on food safety. It will be issued by authorized institutions accredited by KAN, not BGN,” he explained.
He added that HACCP must be complemented by Hygiene Sanitation (SLHS) and halal certification to ensure meals meet national standards.
To prevent further outbreaks of food poisoning linked to MBG, BGN has suspended kitchens found to have food safety violations.
“For some cases, we have temporarily halted operations so that investigations can determine what actually happened at the sites,” Dadan said.
The agency reported that as of September 26, a total of 70 food poisoning incidents had affected 5,914 MBG recipients between January and September.
The cases were primarily caused by bacteria, including E. coli found 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: Rahmad Nasution
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