BGN Launches App to Monitor Free Nutritious Meals Programme Implementation

National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has officially launched the MBG Implementation Review app to monitor and prevent notable incidents experienced by beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.

Deputy Head of BGN, Sony Sonjaya, stated the app will serve as a public oversight tool for the quality of MBG menus delivered to schools. He hopes it will strengthen supervision of the MBG programme, which has been running for 1 year and 4 months.

During his speech, Sony acknowledged that during the programme’s implementation, incidents such as students suffering stomach aches after consuming MBG meals were still occurring, typically due to violations of standard operating procedures (SOP).

“Just as traffic accidents are always preceded by violations, notable incidents related to MBG consumption are also initiated by SOP breaches,” Sony said.

Therefore, BGN launched the MBG Implementation Review app as a community-based early prevention system.

Sony explained that school Personnel in Charge (PIC), including teachers, posyandu heads, and community leaders, must use the app to evaluate incoming meals. This includes checking delivery timeliness, aroma, taste, and menu variety.

“When MBG arrives, the PIC will assess it. First, was it delivered on time? Second, conduct an organoleptic test – smell the food to check if it’s normal,” he said.

Sony also gave an example of varying menus to prevent students from getting bored of daily egg dishes.

He further detailed that the app has four main parameters: delivery timeliness, food freshness, taste, and menu variety. These aspects aim to raise awareness among all stakeholders involved in the MBG programme.

“The goal is to increase awareness among KSPPG, nutrition supervisors, and partners that the food produced and distributed to our children must be timely, fresh, palatable, and varied to avoid monotony,” Sony added.