BPOM Has Not Tested MBG Samples Due to Budget Constraints

The Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, stated that BPOM has not yet conducted sample testing on the free nutritious meal (MBG) menu as a preventive measure against poisoning. According to him, the main reason for this is the unavailability of funding for supervision.

“The sampling and so on must have funding first, and in reality, that funding is not yet available. So, of course, we have not done it,” Taruna said during a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday, 20 April 2026.

Taruna explained that there are three sources of funding that should support BPOM’s oversight of MBG. First, from BPOM’s DIPA, Rp 2.9 billion is available from the initial budget proposal of tens of billions.

Second, the budget proposed by BPOM to the president amounting to Rp 196 billion cannot be used because it must be returned to the Minister of Finance. Third, the self-managed budget from Rp 700 billion reduced to Rp 675 billion has not yet been disbursed.

“Up to this moment, that Rp 675 billion budget cannot be implemented because we are still waiting for the next stage,” he said.

In that meeting, Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the DPR, Charles Honoris, confirmed whether BPOM has ever checked the safety of MBG servings as agreed in the October 2025 meeting. “Meaning randomly, BPOM visits SPPG-SPPGs, takes samples to test whether what is served is suitable and safe. Has that ever been done?” said the PDIP politician.

Taruna Ikrar responded that BPOM has never conducted sample testing before MBG servings are distributed due to the lack of usable funding. While waiting for the funding to be disbursed, BPOM is using its laboratory to research the causes of poisoning from the MBG menu.