MBG Food Safety

Since the MBG program was launched on January 6, 2025, at least four cases of food poisoning have been reported in four different regions. Hundreds of elementary, middle, and high school students have suffered from food poisoning after consuming food from the MBG program.

The four cases were, first, 40 students of Dukuh 03 Elementary School, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, were poisoned after eating MBG food on January 16, 2025. Second, eight elementary school students were poisoned in Empat Lawang Regency, South Sumatra, on February 18, 2025. Third, at least 60 students from several schools in Batang Regency, Central Java, were poisoned after eating MBG packages, on April 14, 2025. Fourth, 78 students of MAN 1 Cianjur and SMP PGRI 1 Cianjur in West Java were also poisoned (Kompas.id, 4/23/2025).

Although the percentage of poisoning cases is relatively small compared to the coverage of the MBG program participants, which has exceeded 2 million people, these poisoning cases cannot be taken lightly. The National Nutrition Agency is expected to promptly investigate the causes of each poisoning case in the field. Is the poisoning due to spoiled food or contaminated food sources? Are there any standard operating procedures or SOPs that were overlooked?

Due to its mass nature, targeting 82.9 million people over the next five years, transparency of information is necessary in the MBG program. The results of the investigation into this food poisoning case need to be announced to the public to serve as a collective learning experience on how to maintain food safety in the MBG program.

We understand the complexity of providing safe food in large quantities with the involvement of many individuals. The provision of food in large amounts requires strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure that the food is truly safe and fit for consumption, as is typically practiced by professional catering companies. This professionalism is what we also hope for in order to realize food safety in the MBG program.

The principles of food safety from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are consistently promoted every June 7 through World Food Safety Day. One of the FAO/WHO food safety slogans states, "If it is not safe, it is not food." The explanation is that only when food is safe will it meet nutritional needs and help ensure that everyone can live an active and healthy life.

This principle also applies to food in the MBG program, where unsafe food is not considered nutritious food. Toxic food can negate the very purpose of the MBG program, which is to enhance nutritional intake and knowledge among the target groups of the program, especially school children.