BGN Permanently Closes SPPG Facility in Batang

Batang (ANTARA) — The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has closed a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Bawang District, Batang Regency, Central Java, following a suspected food-poisoning case involving programme beneficiaries.

Suyono, head of the Batang Regency task force for accelerating the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, said in Batang on Thursday that BGN had confirmed the closure of the communal kitchen’s operations.

“I heard that the permanent closure had actually been in effect since last Sunday. However, I did not dare to announce it because I had not received written confirmation from the central office,” he said.

He said the local government had yet to receive a copy of the official document containing the laboratory test results for food samples linked to the mass suspected poisoning.

“So we cannot disclose the findings to the public yet. Please wait,” he said.

He said MBG meal distribution would be divided among nearby SPPG units under arrangements managed directly by the central system.

“I have called the regional coordinator. Beneficiaries will be assigned to nearby SPPG units through the central system, while those of us here will simply receive the arrangements,” he said.

Suyono, who is also Batang deputy regent, said the local government was continuing to ensure that replacement SPPG kitchens had adequate production capacity and complied with food-safety standards.

“We are stepping up oversight of all SPPG operators. We have also instructed all MBG communal-kitchen operators to carry out a thorough review before the task force conducts unannounced field inspections,” he said.

He stressed the importance of following standard operating procedures (SOPs), from sanitation and food preparation to serving.

“All SPPG units must comply with the SOPs. If they are not doing so, they must make improvements now, before I inspect all the facilities in the field,” he said.