500 Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens Suspended Due to Hygiene Issues

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has revealed that around 500 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) are currently under suspension due to various issues in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. The BGN is conducting evaluations of these kitchens before reinstating their permission to serve beneficiaries.

BGN Head, Sudaryono, stated that these 500 SPPGs are part of approximately 1,100 kitchens that have not yet received a Beneficiary Determination Letter (SPS) as of 5 October 2026. Without an SPS, these kitchens are not permitted to provide MBG services.

“If I am not mistaken, there are about 1,100 as of today for which we have not issued the SPS. Consequently, they cannot serve. Out of the 27,022 total, about 500 of those 1,100 are suspended,” Sudaryono told reporters at the Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters in Jakarta on Monday (5/10/2026).

According to him, the suspended status was imposed due to several issues that need to be addressed by the SPPG managers. These problems include matters related to wastewater treatment plants (IPAL), food poisoning incidents, and other necessary repairs.

The BGN will not automatically allow all suspended SPPGs to resume operations. Each kitchen will be inspected first to ensure it meets the safety and hygiene standards established for the MBSS programme implementation.

“Regarding the 500 suspensions, we are reviewing them. For example, if we suspend a kitchen for inspection and find that a kitchen is located directly beneath a swiftlet nest, it will be permanently closed,” Sudaryono said.

He emphasised that SPPG safety standards must be high because the food distributed through the MBG programme consists of ready-to-eat meals. This condition necessitates precise food handling to prevent rapid spoilage and health risks.

“The standards must be high because this is ready-to-eat food. It is not biscuits, cookies, or crackers that, apologies, have a long shelf life; this is ready-to-eat food that spoils easily,” he added.