Parliament Requests SPPG in Riau Islands to Install Safe Consumption Time Labels on MBG Meals
Tanjungpinang (ANTARA) - Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has requested that the managers of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchens in Riau Islands Province (Kepri) install special labels indicating the safe consumption time limit for meals under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.
“Those labels could be placed on the MBG containers so that beneficiaries know the safe time limit (hour) for consuming the food,” said Deputy Chair of Commission IX DPR, Nihayatul Wafiroh, after inspecting the SPPG kitchen at Tanjungpinang Police Resort on Jalan Rumah Sakit, Tanjungpinang, Kepri, on Thursday morning.
She noted that several food poisoning cases have affected beneficiaries, especially students, due to consuming MBG beyond the recommended time limit.
Therefore, she suggested that the Tanjungpinang Police Resort SPPG kitchen promptly implement the installation of such labels to prevent undesirable incidents.
On the same occasion, she provided input regarding the cleaning procedures for the containers at the SPPG, which has been operational for three months, to make them more standardised and hygienic.
“I believe food taste testing is very important to implement across all SPPG units to ensure that MBG menus are safe for beneficiaries to consume,” she stated.
After visiting the SPPG kitchen, Wafiroh, along with several Commission IX DPR members, continued to observe the distribution of MBG to students at Tanjungpinang Catholic Primary School (SD), not far from the Tanjungpinang Police Resort SPPG.
According to her, the students are enthusiastic about the MBG programme, with some even skipping breakfast at home to enjoy the meals at school.
“We saw it together earlier; the students were eating the MBG very eagerly. The favourite menu, on average, is chicken,” she said.
She hopes that teachers at schools will provide suggestions and feedback to the SPPG and the National Food Agency (BGN) regarding MBG menus preferred by students.
Additionally, she encouraged SPPG and teachers to create a WhatsApp group to facilitate communication when field-level issues arise concerning the MBG programme.
“Joint oversight by all relevant stakeholders is very necessary so that our President’s programme runs optimally,” Wafiroh concluded.
During this visit, Commission IX DPR was accompanied by related agencies, the National Food Agency (BGN), the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), and the Health and Labour Social Security Administrating Bodies (BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).