BGN Head Dadan Hindayana said in Jakarta that 13,245 SPPGs have been established nationwide, with all currently undergoing the certification process to ensure food safety standards are met.
He added that new MBG kitchens must first coordinate with local health offices to ensure full compliance with government regulations before starting operations.
“God willing, all MBG kitchens will be certified soon,” Hindayana said.
During a Red and White Cabinet plenary session in Jakarta on October 20, President Prabowo Subianto said the MBG program has served nearly 37 million schoolchildren, toddlers, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women across Indonesia.
Related news: Indonesia freezes 112 MBG kitchens amid food safety push
Despite the achievement, Prabowo urged ministries and local authorities to improve program oversight after reports of health issues among recipients in several regions due to poor food quality and safety violations by some SPPGs.
In response, the government has introduced stricter measures, including drafting a presidential regulation mandating tighter safety standards and conducting technical training for food handlers nationwide.
The BGN has also suspended 112 MBG kitchens suspected of negligence or failure to meet required standards.
All SPPGs are now required to prepare meals in air-conditioned rooms, obtain SLHS certification, and comply with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards, halal assurance, and clean water usage guidelines.
The government has further mandated the use of gallon-packaged water for cooking, sterilization of food trays, and pre-distribution food testing to guarantee safety.
Authorities said the new measures aim to help the MBG program meet its target of reaching 83 million beneficiaries nationwide by early 2026.
Related news: Indonesia targets 82.9 million free meal recipients by March 2026
Translator: Mario S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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