September 27, 2025 | 11:00 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nutrition expert Hardinsyah has attributed recent food safety incidents in Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to bacterial contamination
He stressed that stronger oversight is crucial to ensure the distributed meals do not endanger the health of children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
“If symptoms such as nausea and vomiting appear, that already indicates a health problem. We must prevent that from happening,” Hardinsyah said during a press conference with the National Nutrition Body, broadcast on the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) YouTube channel, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
He proposed that schools should serve as the first line of defense. Principals and heads of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), he said, should inspect and taste meals before distribution.
“Upon arrival at school, the principal should examine the food—its freshness, color, or whether there’s a stale smell. If something feels off, that should be the warning sign. This isn’t about being treated like guinea pigs; the SOP is designed to work that way,” he explained.
Hardinsyah acknowledged that some principals objected to the mechanism. To ensure compliance, he recommended applying a system of rewards and sanctions for consistent implementation of standard procedures.
Oversight, he added, should not be limited to teachers. Communities and parents must also be involved. Assigned cadres, for example, could visually inspect, smell, and taste the food before distribution.
“These are simple steps that can prevent bigger risks,” he said.
To strengthen accountability, he suggested creating independent supervisory teams in every MBG service unit, composed of school staff, community members, government officials, and parents.
These teams, he said, could rotate duties weekly and hold monthly evaluations to identify issues and suggest improvements.
Hardinsyah also noted that such a system would empower local communities.
“Since this is by the community and for the community, the government should provide support, including incentives for the independent supervisors,” he said.
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