Office of Presidential Staff Calls for Overhaul of Free Nutritious Meals Program After Poisoning Cases

Jakarta, MINA – The Chief of the Office of Presidential Staff (KSP), Muhammad Qodari, stated that a comprehensive evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is needed following a rise in student poisoning cases. He believes the program must be improved in terms of both its mechanisms and institutions to ensure its primary goal is met without posing health risks.

“There must be improvements in the mechanisms, institutions, and various other aspects. This process is currently underway. Please pray for its success. This is a wake-up call that this must be fixed as quickly as possible. What we are concerned about are accidents in remote areas where the focus is not as good as in urban areas,” said Qodari in Jakarta on Saturday.

Qodari explained that the MBG program should be designed with a “zero accident” standard. “In my opinion, [MBG] needs a complete overhaul, both in terms of the establishment of its Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) and its delivery on the ground,” he said.

However, since its initial implementation, there have already been several poisoning cases, including the most recent incident on Thursday (9/18) in Garut Regency, West Java, which affected 569 students.

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“Precisely because of what happened yesterday and the trends and developments we’re seeing, there’s a perspective from us as the KSP that needs to be communicated and understood: this program’s concept is one of zero tolerance for accidents, in other words, zero accidents,” he stated.

According to him, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), as the organizer, must not tolerate such incidents. Qodari also highlighted the greater risk in remote areas, which have limited access to healthcare facilities. “In urban areas, recovery might be fast and treatment quick because the healthcare facilities are good. But in remote areas, it could become a major disaster,” he added.

He further emphasized that the MBG program must be run with zero tolerance for even the slightest error. “It can’t be that the MBG’s accident rate is only 5 percent or just 1 percent. This is a program with zero tolerance for accidents. So the MBG must be perfect. Every day, all year long, for as long as this program runs, that is what all parties involved with the MBG must aim for,” he said.

Meanwhile, previously, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi had apologized for the series of MBG poisoning cases. He assured that the government has taken steps to help the affected victims and is evaluating the program’s implementation.

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“On behalf of the government and representing the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), we apologize for the repeated incidents in several regions. These were not something that was hoped for, let alone intentional,” he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday (9/19).

Prasetyo explained that the government, along with the BGN and local governments, has provided quick treatment to the affected students. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation is underway to prevent similar incidents from recurring. “This will certainly serve as a record and material for evaluation. Mitigation efforts and improvements are also being made so that this problem does not happen again,” he said.

As a corrective measure, the BGN has committed to a “zero incident” target by tightening standards for the kitchens of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs), which provide menus for the MBG in various regions. []

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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