BGN Permanently Closes More Than 2,000 MBG Kitchens Over Hygiene Failures

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has permanently closed more than 2,000 kitchens in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme after they were found not to meet hygiene and sanitation requirements. The closures form part of efforts to improve governance and oversight of the programme.

BGN head Sudaryono said the closures targeted kitchens that did not meet eligibility requirements, including those without a Sanitation and Hygiene Fitness Certificate (SLHS).

“We close those without an SLHS. In fact, we have permanently closed more than 2,000 kitchens over hygiene and sanitation issues,” Sudaryono said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said improvements were needed because previous oversight had been inadequate, while thousands of kitchens operated with inconsistent standards for buildings, staffing, food procurement and service.

In Cirebon, he said, one kitchen had bought cooked quail eggs that were already peeled, making it impossible to verify their preparation and cleanliness. In Bogor, meanwhile, officials found the use of ready-made satay peanut sauce despite an established standard operating procedure.

BGN has also permanently shut down several kitchens for what it deemed deliberate negligence, including facilities in Karo, Semarang and Blora.

“Alongside tightening hygiene standards, BGN is requiring MBG kitchen operators to submit daily expenditure reports (LPDH) before receiving additional operating funds,” he said.

Sudaryono said that around 6,100 of the 26,385 MBG kitchens currently operating had not submitted daily expenditure reports. BGN will withhold additional funding and temporarily suspend those kitchens’ operations while its inspectorate investigates.

He stressed that violations involving criminal elements would be followed up in coordination with law enforcement agencies.