Government Evaluates and Tightens SOPs to Ensure Safety of the Free Nutritional Meal Program
Jakarta – The government has affirmed its commitment to tightening standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) in an effort to prevent food poisoning incidents and ensure food safety for millions of beneficiaries. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to strengthen governance, cross-sector coordination, and field supervision to ensure the program runs safely and effectively.
President Prabowo Subianto stated that the government has taken decisive steps to improve MBG safety by procuring modern equipment to support food testing.
“We are tightening supervision and SOPs. We are also purchasing new equipment, water filters, testing kits for each food produced, and modern equipment for water and ompreng sterilization,” he said.
The Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) is also ensuring integrated MBG governance through the preparation of a Draft Presidential Regulation on MBG Governance and a Draft Presidential Regulation on the Organizational Structure and Work Procedures of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Rini Widyantini stated that strengthening regulations is part of accelerating the implementation of cross-ministerial policies.
“The Ministry of PANRB ensures that governance is implemented thoroughly,” she said at the Limited Coordination Meeting on the MBG Program in Jakarta.
Rini explained that the draft regulation will regulate the mechanism for agency collaboration, from planning, implementation, and supervision. In addition to providing nutritious food, strengthening infrastructure, partnerships, and cross-sector coordination will also be a priority.
She emphasized the importance of strengthening the National Nutrition Agency and the National Nutrition Fulfillment Service Office (KPPG) as the spearheads of program implementation in the regions. “KPPG must be the main driving force in the regions,” she said.
Cross-sector coordination was also emphasized, including collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), and relevant ministries of education. According to Rini, this is necessary for optimal quality control, food safety, and implementation in educational institutions.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan emphasized the importance of Presidential Decree Number 28 of 2025 concerning the establishment of the MBG Program Implementation Coordination Team.
“There are 82.9 million beneficiaries of the MBG. We don’t want any risks,” he said.
By strengthening governance, regulations, and coordination, the government aims to ensure the implementation of the MBG is safer, more transparent, and provides tangible benefits to the community as part of the effort to create a healthy and competitive generation of Indonesians.
