BGN issues warnings to 2,100 SPPG units, urges improvements in MBG services
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has issued warnings to 2,100 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) and temporarily suspended some of them as a commitment to continuously improve the quality of services under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that these measures are part of oversight to ensure service standards are met.
“A total of 2,100 SPPG have received warnings, while another 1,789 have had their operations temporarily suspended. Most suspensions were due to several SPPG not yet registering their Hygiene Sanitation Suitability Certificates (SLHS),” he said in Jakarta on Thursday.
“Suspensions are temporary until those documents (SLHS) are issued. This data may evolve, as the SLHS could be obtained in two to three days,” Dadan added.
Besides the SLHS issue, another factor leading to suspensions is the lack of Wastewater Treatment Installations (Ipal). BGN has urged SPPG without Ipal to build them promptly.
“The duration of suspensions depends on how quickly each unit meets the requirements, estimated to range from one to two weeks,” Dadan explained.
He mentioned findings from Ramadan, where 62 SPPG produced menus that did not comply with regulations. These cases gained attention on social media. BGN then temporarily halted operations of the related SPPG to allow for corrections.
“The issuance of warnings and suspensions is part of coaching efforts. Temporary halts are not permanent sanctions but opportunities for each SPPG to address deficiencies before resuming operations,” he stated.
The government has decided to provide MBG only on days when students attend school, and not during holidays.
This follows a cross-ministry/institution evaluation presented at a limited coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs (Kemenko Pangan) in Jakarta on Thursday.
“For improvements and effectiveness of implementation, previously MBG was provided for six days, including holidays. That turned out to be less effective. Therefore, we have decided that MBG will be given on school days, when students come for five days. During Eid holidays, providing MBG is ineffective. So, no more (MBG distribution to students) on holidays, only on school days,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan.
Based on the Guidelines for Managing the MBG Programme During School Holidays, as stipulated in BGN Head’s Decree Number 52.1 of 2025, BGN ensures that the MBG distribution flow continues even during semester holidays, where the 3B group—comprising pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers—will still receive MBG six days a week, unaffected by the school holiday calendar.