“The MBG Program places food safety and nutritional quality as top priorities. We continue to monitor and evaluate so that the entire process, from food preparation to distribution, runs according to established standards,” BGN Deputy Head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang said in a statement here on Tuesday.
BGN stressed that each menu in the MBG program is designed by considering balanced nutrition and food safety standards. Therefore, any reports or arising polemics will be followed up through coordination and evaluation to ensure services for beneficiaries continue to run optimally.
The statement was delivered in response to a viral video showing a menu from the MBG program at a school in Pamekasan District, East Java, on Monday (March 9), which featured marinated catfish and tempeh.
According to Deyang, based on field reports, the meal package prepared by the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) or MBG kitchen actually consisted of several menu components, including marinated catfish, braised tofu and tempeh, pizza bread, boiled eggs, full cream milk, and dragon fruit.
“Based on the report we received, the menu prepared by the SPPG was actually complete. However, in the circulating video, only part of the menu is visible because the school refused to allow the food packages to be taken out of the distribution vehicle,” she explained.
Meanwhile, SPPG Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan nutritionist Fikri Kuttawakil said the use of marinated catfish in the MBG menu is based on nutritional and food security considerations.
“Why do we use marinated catfish? First, to prevent the loss of nutrients in the catfish and to add protein intake for that day. When marinated, the catfish can also last for up to one day,” he said.
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Translator: Lintang, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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