"We have already established non-negotiable standard operating procedures, including a requirement for kitchens to use only gallon-packaged water in cooking to ensure hygiene," BGN Deputy Head Sony Sanjaya stated in Malang City, East Java, on Sunday.
Highlighting hygiene standards, he noted that all SPPGs are required not only to wash but also to sterilize food trays after use.
Sanjaya noted that BGN had partnered with a chef association to provide mentoring for food handlers working in SPPGs that have been operational for less than two months.
The association will deploy professional chefs to improve kitchen operators’ capacity to prepare nutritious meals while maintaining high hygiene and health standards, he added.
He also assured the public that the agency conducts regular evaluations of all SPPGs to ensure compliance with cooking, safety, and distribution standards aimed at preventing food poisoning incidents.
Moreover, the BGN has suspended several SPPGs suspected of negligence after failing to meet these standards, which allegedly caused health problems among MBG recipients. Investigations into these kitchens are ongoing.
President Prabowo Subianto has revealed that since its launch in January 2025, the MBG program had delivered about 1.4 billion meal portions to nearly 37 million schoolchildren, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers nationwide.
This achievement has been supported by around 12 thousand SPPGs established by BGN and its partners, including the National Police (Polri). The number of kitchens is set to increase further to meet the target of serving 83 million beneficiaries by early 2026.
To strengthen food safety following MBG-related poisoning reports, the government has taken various measures, including drafting a presidential regulation mandating stricter safety standards and organizing technical training for food handlers.
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Translator: Ananto P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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