September 25, 2025 | 06:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has called on the government to immediately investigate and reform the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, which has been running for over nine months.
YLKI Chair Niti Emiliana highlighted several urgent measures the government must take to improve the program’s quality.
Among them is the need for proper training, clear standards, and sanitation guarantees for the kitchens and facilities of the Nutritional Service Units (SPPG). Niti stressed that stricter food safety protocols are crucial, as the right to safe food is a fundamental entitlement for all program beneficiaries.
Niti also suggested temporarily suspending the MBG program to carry out a comprehensive overhaul.
“If thorough and systematic improvements are not made, the MBG program could become a ticking time bomb for other beneficiaries, potentially increasing illness rates among recipients,” she said in a written statement on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
She criticized the government for failing to take responsibility for the MBG program, which has led to poisoning incidents affecting thousands of beneficiaries.
“The government must be accountable for every case and the harm experienced by recipients. It should also provide accessible channels for complaints from victims so that these cases can serve as points of evaluation for program organizers,” Niti added.
YLKI emphasized that the state must actively resolve the ongoing issues in the MBG program, particularly food poisoning cases that have impacted thousands.
Comprehensive system reforms from production to distribution, along with audits of kitchen and meal standards, are deemed essential steps for the government to demonstrate serious responsibility and prevent further harm.
Previously, Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Muhammad Qodari noted that three agencies reported varying data on MBG poisoning victims.
These agencies include the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the Ministry of Health, and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM). While the numbers differ slightly, all sources indicate roughly 5,000 victims.
“Statistically, the figures are actually consistent, all hovering around 5,000,” Qodari said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Central Jakarta on Monday, September 22, 2025.
He detailed the figures: BGN recorded 5,080 victims across 46 incidents; the Ministry of Health reported 60 cases affecting 5,207 individuals; and BPOM noted 55 cases with 5,320 victims. Additionally, the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) reported 5,360 victims, though the number of incidents was not specified.
Qodari identified four main causes of the MBG poisoning cases: poor food hygiene, incorrect food temperature and preparation, cross-contamination by staff, and potential allergic reactions among recipients.
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