Mass Poisoning Cases Rise, Puan Asks For MBG Program To Be Evaluated

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, responded to the rise of cases of students experiencing mass poisoning after eating the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program menu.

He asked the government, especially the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to evaluate the distribution of the MBG program so that poisoning events do not happen again.

"Yes, an evaluation must always be carried out so that it can be followed up, so that its implementation in the field can be better," said Puan at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, September 22.

Puan hopes that with a serious evaluation conducted by BGN, the implementation of the MBG program in the future will be better. "And don't let the children who are then harmed," said the PDIP legislator.

As previously reported, the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), Prasetyo Hadi, said that the government would impose sanctions on nutritional fulfillment service units (SPPG) who neglect to make free nutritious food (MBG).

"It must be (given sanctions). If the sanctions are intentional or negligent factors in implementing the SOP, of course there will be sanctions for the SPPG in question," said Prasetyo at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Friday, September 19.

Even so, Prasetyo ensured that the sanctions would not interfere with the SPPG's operations. Thus, the recipient still gets the MBG, even though the SPPG neglects to receive sanctions.

"But also the sanctions that will be applied should not then interfere with operational aspects so as to interfere with beneficiaries not to get MBG," he said.