Dede Anwar Musadad, a researcher at BRIN’s Center for Public Health and Nutrition, emphasized on Tuesday that as a top national priority, the program’s execution must be guarded to ensure it does not create new health problems.
He warned that the sheer scale of the program, which targets tens of millions of beneficiaries, significantly increases the complexity of the distribution chain and the potential for contamination.
"Large-scale food production involving long processes heightens the risk of contamination, especially since the target groups, such as schoolchildren, are among the most vulnerable," Musadad stated.
The researcher identified several critical factors that must be controlled throughout every stage of food management.
These include the consistent availability of clean water, adequate sanitation, personal hygiene of food handlers, and professional waste management.
He noted that standardized facilities and competent environmental health personnel are essential to ensuring the program remains safe and sustainable.
Musadad also reminded stakeholders that food safety is a legal mandate under national regulations, including the Food Law, which requires all provided meals to be hygienic, high-quality, and nutritious.
He argued that every party involved in the supply chain shares a collective responsibility to mitigate risks and maintain standardized operational procedures from upstream to downstream.
Ultimately, the agency stressed that food poisoning is a serious public health concern that is entirely preventable.
By synchronizing standards across all regions and improving the capacity of local food processing units, the government can protect the health of millions of students and ensure the success of this flagship national initiative.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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