Nanik Reveals Gibran's Message to BGN: Involve SOEs in Building MBG Kitchens in 3T Regions

Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Public Communication and Investigation, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, has conveyed directives from the Vice President regarding the strengthening of food security aspects in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.

“I was recently called by the Vice President to discuss food security,” said Nanik in Jakarta on Monday, 27 April 2026.

In the meeting, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in MBG kitchens or Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), particularly in handling food waste.

The Vice Head of State specifically warned that food waste should not re-enter the kitchen as it could become a source of disease.

“Mr Gibran cautioned that food waste must not enter the kitchen, as it poses a potential source of disease,” Nanik revealed.

As a preventive measure, Nanik continued, the Vice President suggested that the cleaning of food waste be conducted outside the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. “He recommended cleaning food residues outside the kitchen,” she added.

These directives will form part of efforts to bolster food security standards, especially in the nutritional fulfilment programme, ensuring the quality of food served to the public remains maintained and safe for consumption.

She also highlighted the Vice President’s background as a former catering entrepreneur, which gives him a detailed understanding of kitchen operational standard procedures (SOP).

“As a former catering businessman, the Vice President fully understands kitchen workflow SOPs and critical aspects of food security,” said Nanik.

Beyond security aspects, Gibran also requested that BGN accelerate the equitable rollout of the MBG programme, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.

This is based on findings from his visits to several provinces in Papua, where many districts still lack SPPG facilities.

To address this, BGN is encouraging the involvement of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in supporting the construction of MBG kitchen infrastructure through corporate social responsibility (CSR) schemes.

“It would be best to involve SOEs in 3T regions; through their CSR, they can build kitchens, so it doesn’t have to come from the state budget to construct kitchens or SPPG,” Nanik stated.