National Nutrition Agency Head Urges Local Governments to Conduct Spot Checks to Ensure Food Safety
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has requested that local governments contribute by conducting unannounced inspections (sidak) of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) to ensure food safety for the beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.
Sudaryono made this statement during the simultaneous inauguration of 480 SPPGs in frontier, outermost, and least developed (3T) regions in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, on Friday.
“We request that Regents, Mayors, and local governments (pemda) inspect all SPPGs. If possible, at 2:00 or 3:00 am, using a checklist of what must and must not be present in the SPPG. We ask for inspections regarding cleanliness and discipline in the schools,” he said during a YouTube broadcast followed online from Jakarta.
Sudaryono noted that there are currently 27,022 MBG kitchens operating across Indonesia, with 480 SPPGs inaugurated today in 3T regions and areas with high stunting rates across 16 provinces.
“Today we are focusing on eastern Indonesia; next week we will open in Kalimantan and Bali—places with high stunting rates and where children truly need the MBG,” he said.
He also urged all SPPG officers to work with dedication and in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure that food is provided to beneficiaries in good condition, safe, and meeting the established nutritional standards.
“I am implementing a new policy; since I joined the BGN, kitchen heads must be present with their teams and recorded. It is mandatory to take attendance of the SPPG heads leading their teams in the kitchen, starting from 2:00 am. Any SPPG head who is not serious should be prepared for dismissal if they do not follow the SOP. I apologise, but this is because human health and lives are far more precious than my need to retain a single person,” he stated.
Therefore, as part of improving the governance of the MBG programme, the agency has implemented attendance monitoring via Zoom, overseen by BGN leaders from 2:00 am, covering the 27,000 kitchens across Indonesia.
“This includes labelling the maximum time by which food must be consumed, ensuring staff wear gloves, and so on. Kitchen heads must also train their staff; if someone is cutting cabbage on the floor, that must stop immediately. Everything must be done according to SOP and hygiene standards,” Sudaryono added.