Zulhas targets overhaul of free nutritious meal programme governance before 20 October 2026

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) is targeting the resolution of most governance problems in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme before 20 October 2026.

Zulhas said the overhaul is being carried out through, among other things, strengthening the discipline of heads of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), and fulfilment of hygiene and sanitation requirements.

“Within two months we will resolve most of the problems. Alhamdulillah, as of today it is already quite good; some things are still outstanding, but most have been resolved,” Zulhas said after a limited coordination meeting on improving MBG governance at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, one change in oversight is the requirement for SPPG heads to be present during kitchen operating hours to ensure the food processing runs according to procedure.

The Coordinating Minister for Food said that for operations starting in the early hours, SPPG heads are required to be on site from around 02.00 WIB until 08.00 WIB.

“The kitchen operating hours are 02.00 WIB in the morning. In the east it may differ by one hour. So the working hours start at 02.00 WIB in the morning until 08.00. I really appreciate this; it is extraordinary. Just imagine how difficult it is to wake up at half past one; it is difficult if you are not trained,” Zulhas said.

Their presence is also monitored online via Zoom by officials from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).

The oversight is carried out to ensure the food processing meets standards and to maintain food safety for beneficiaries.

“The safety of Indonesian children who receive the meals must be the number one priority,” he added.

In strengthening discipline, Zulhas said 66 SPPG heads have been dismissed in the past month for indiscipline, including not being present at their workplace.

“There are already 66 who have been dismissed. Previously 183, then 66 who were not disciplined. The SPPG was not disciplined. This is firm. A total of 183 plus 66 have been sacked,” he said.

He assessed that the presence of SPPG heads during operating hours is important because they are responsible for ensuring food oversight and the implementation of SOPs run properly.

In addition to discipline, the government is enforcing compliance with the Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certificate (SLHS) as part of strengthening food safety in MBG kitchens.

Zulhas said there are 3,060 SPPGs that have not yet applied for SLHS and will be brought into compliance with the applicable regulations.

“And earlier there were 463 that were not recorded, meaning around 3,500 kitchens have not applied for SLHS,” Zulhas said.

On the same occasion, BGN Head Sudaryono said 455 SPPGs have been closed for failing to meet SLHS standards.

That figure is a correction from the 504 SPPGs previously announced by BGN, after some SPPGs subsequently met the requirements.

“Indeed, to the media yesterday I mentioned 504, but it turned out after we reviewed, some of those 504 have since met the SLHS requirements, so of course we reduced the number. So the accurate figure is 455 that were closed for not meeting SLHS standards,” Sudaryono said.

BGN has previously stressed that SLHS is a requirement that SPPGs must fulfil to ensure MBG kitchens meet hygiene and sanitation standards before serving beneficiaries.

Sudaryono said compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) is an important part of ensuring the food received by beneficiaries is safe, nutritious, good and clean.

The SOPs include, among other things, food storage, cleanliness in the processing, and the presence of the SPPG person in charge during operating hours.

BGN has also established a chain of operational responsibility should the SPPG head be unable to attend.

Responsibility then falls to the supervisor or nutritionist, and then to the accountant if both are unable to attend.

Sudaryono stressed that kitchens are not permitted to operate if all three responsible persons cannot be present during the same operating hours.

“If these three leaders cannot be present during operating hours, then the kitchen may not operate,” he asserted.

Furthermore, the Coordinating Minister for Food is optimistic that the ongoing overhaul can strengthen MBG governance while ensuring services to beneficiaries are increasingly safe and up to standard.

“There is now a new management, and we are confident that before 20 October we will complete it,” Zulhas said.