..through these kitchens that we nurture a generation of smart, healthy, and competitive talents,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has organized technical training for 30,000 food handlers managing Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program kitchens, or SPPGs, operating in 34 districts and cities nationwide.

In a statement cited here on Monday, BGN Director of Provision and Distribution Nurjaeni said the initiative serves as a strategic measure to strengthen the governance of SPPGs, which play a pivotal role in the MBG program.

“We intend this technical training to ensure all food handlers possess the skills required to properly manage the entire MBG process, from ingredient selection to cooking and distribution,” he said.

Nurjaeni added that the capacity-building program, held on October 18–19 in Jakarta, also aims to guide all MBG kitchens in preventing food safety issues, particularly quality degradation or contamination-related poisoning.

“It is through these kitchens that we nurture a generation of smart, healthy, and competitive talents,” he emphasized.

The BGN official further noted that the agency has devised ten strategic steps to ensure the national flagship program is implemented in line with food quality and safety standards.

First, BGN plans to deploy 5,000 professional cooks from the Indonesian Chef Association to share best practices with operators of new SPPGs. Second, it will collaborate with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) on food safety testing for MBG meals.

Third, all MBG kitchens must obtain hygiene and sanitation certificates.

Fourth, the agency will work with the Health Ministry to provide online education for MBG kitchen operators. Fifth, sterilization of cutlery has been made mandatory.

For the sixth and seventh steps, BGN intends to increase the number of nutritionists assigned to SPPGs and require halal certification for all kitchens.

In the eighth step, MBG kitchens will be required to install CCTV cameras to ensure transparency, while the ninth focuses on strengthening compliance with standard operating procedures. The tenth step involves intensifying education and supervision to upgrade MBG-related services.

Launched on January 6 this year, the MBG program has served around 34.5 million schoolchildren, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers across Indonesia through about 12,000 kitchens nationwide.

President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly stated that he initiated the program to improve national nutritional intake and build high-quality human resources in pursuit of the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.



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Translator: Lintang B, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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