BGN Encourages Innovation in High-Quality, Affordable MBG Menu Options

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, is encouraging the development of innovations in menus for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) that are of high quality yet remain affordable through collaborations between nutrition experts and professional chefs. “I hope that one day innovations in food will emerge from nutrition experts and professional chefs, resulting in a distinctive MBG Programme quality on par with five-star standards but aligned with the MBG raw material budget of Rp10,000,” he stated in an official remark in Jakarta on Thursday. He noted that product innovations are increasingly important, particularly in implementing the programme during the month of Ramadan, as the meals served must not only be nutritious and fresh but also have a longer shelf life. “This product innovation is important, especially in relation to the programme during Ramadan, where we need high-quality, fresh, but long-lasting food; that’s the challenge,” said Dadan. He also highlighted the rapid growth in the number of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) over the past year, which were around 1,000 during the previous Ramadan and have now significantly increased to approximately 25,000 units across Indonesia. According to him, this scaling up brings challenges in maintaining consistent service quality. Although there have been a few SPPG units that have drawn public attention, he considers this within reasonable limits when viewed against the overall number operating. “So if there are 62 that go viral and become something extraordinary out of 25,000, percentage-wise it’s actually small, but that’s what the public sees,” he explained. Dadan affirmed that evaluations and improvements will continue internally to ensure even quality of MBG services across all regions. He also stressed the importance of compliance with technical guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) that have been established. “We must continue to make internal improvements so that quality is even and not a single SPPG deviates from the guidelines and SOP that have been set,” stated Dadan Hindayana.