BGN: Raw Materials for Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens Must Not Be Dominated by a Single Supplier

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Nanik Sudaryati Deyang has affirmed that raw food materials for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchens, formally known as Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), must not be dominated by a single supplier.

Nanik said the SPPG kitchens should instead empower local farming groups, livestock breeders, fishermen, cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their surrounding areas to become MBG suppliers, so that the menus served are also more varied.

“SPPG food raw materials must not come from just one, two or three suppliers. Especially if those suppliers are merely extensions of the SPPG’s partners,” Nanik said in an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Nanik made the remarks during a coordination meeting with SPPG heads, financial supervisors and nutrition supervisors across the city of Surabaya and Sidoarjo regency in East Java.

“The operation of MBG prioritises the use of domestic products and the involvement of micro enterprises, small enterprises, individual limited companies, cooperatives, village red-and-white cooperatives, and village-owned enterprises (BUMDes),” she said.

Under these provisions, SPPG kitchens are required to use MSME products and food raw materials from small-scale farmers, breeders and fishermen, cooperatives, and residents near the MBG kitchens. With a large number of suppliers involved, she said, the communities surrounding the kitchens are also expected to benefit through the stimulation of local economies.

“Each SPPG must use a minimum of 15 raw food material suppliers to meet its needs,” Nanik said.

“Check directly at the SPPG kitchens how many suppliers are being used for raw material procurement. Monopoly by partners or foundations must not be allowed to occur,” she added.

Nanik also requested that reports on the number of food raw material suppliers at each SPPG be submitted to her within one week. She will subsequently task the BGN’s Deputy for Monitoring and Supervision to take action against non-compliant SPPG partners found to be dominating food supply chains.

“If any are still dominating and only have one to three partners, I will suspend them,” Nanik said.