Zulhas: Zero tolerance for irresponsible officials in Free Nutritious Meal Programme
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifl Hasan (Zulhas), has emphasised that there must be no tolerance for officials within the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme who act irresponsibly in providing food for beneficiaries.
Zulhas highlighted the importance of timing between when food is cooked, distributed, and consumed as a critical factor in the implementation of the MBG programme.
“There must be no tolerance for irresponsible officials. For instance, if food is cooked at 5:30 am or 6:00 am WIB, it should be eaten by 10:00 am or 11:00 am WIB, and sent by 11:00 am WIB,” said Zulhas following the launch of the book ‘Indonesian Food: From Healthy Plates to Superior Humans’ in Jakarta on Friday.
Regarding the form of strict sanctions that can be imposed on irresponsible officials, Zulhas mentioned the option of dismissal.
“(The sanctions) will be firm; they will be dismissed,” he stated.
The Coordinating Minister for Food further added that action could be taken if elements of intentional misconduct are found, though he did not detail the specific nature of such enforcement.
“If it is intentional, then action will be taken,” he said.
Zulhas’s statement was made during a discussion regarding strict sanctions related to food safety incidents in the execution of the MBG programme.
In recent developments, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) imposed a heavy 30-day suspension on the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Sidoarjo Talangangin Kalitengah, following a food safety incident at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, East Java.
The BGN has also proposed that the head of the said SPPG be removed and replaced, while a joint investigation with relevant health agencies is being conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
The Head of the BGN, Sudaryono, stated on Thursday (3/9) that preliminary investigations indicate negligence in food distribution. According to him, the food had been cooked since the morning, but reached the beneficiaries past the designated consumption time.
Sudaryorkan also stated that the determination of whether there are criminal elements regarding health issues related to the MBG will be left to law enforcement agencies based on the results of investigations and inquiries.
Enforcing discipline within the SPPG has previously been part of the governance improvements for the MBG programme. On 26 August 2026, the government recorded that 249 SPPG heads had been dismissed due to various violations, including food poisoning cases, absences of more than 10 working days, and other disciplinary breaches.
During the same period, the BGN recorded that 27,485 SPPGs were operational and had undergone inspections of kitchen profiles and the accuracy of beneficiary data as part of the programme’s restructuring.
The government previously targeted that most governance issues within the MBG programme could be rectified before 20 October 2026 through strengthened discipline of SPPG heads, compliance with standard operating procedures, and the fulfilment of hygiene and sanitation requirements.