Risk Remains, Nutritionists Say MBG Poisoning Is Impossible To Be Completely Removed

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Nutritionists (Persagi) said the risk of poisoning is still impossible to completely eliminate in the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program, because food poisoning cases can in principle still occur anywhere, including in developed countries.

Head of the Scientific Division, Policy, Research and Innovation of Persagi Marudut Sitompul revealed that none of the countries in the world have eliminated the potential for food poisoning to zero levels.

"So, I think even if there is poisoning anywhere in developed countries, it will still happen ... To reach zero, I think it is impossible anywhere," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, November 19.

Although it is impossible to reach zero, according to Marudut, the government and policy makers have shown a strong commitment to reduce the MBG poisoning incident by making improvements.

"But we hope that it can be safe, right. However, I think the stakeholder already exists, even the President wants that there should be no food poisoning (in the MBG program)," he said.

Marudut said, efforts to strengthen food security must be carried out through various steps. Starting from increasing the standard of hygiene in the nutritional fulfillment service unit (SPPG) or the kitchen of the MBG program provider, to examining the health of food processing workers.

"A certification has been carried out like a hygiene-sanitation for each SPPG, trained by food processing personnel there, checked whether they are food carriers or not. Food carriers are those who may look healthy, but they actually contain disease seeds, now the blood is checked," he said.

Marudut said another strategic step taken through the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is international food safety standards with the aim of mapping the critical points in the production chain.

We will apply hazard analysis and critical control points. Where the first is first the plan documents, the hazard planning, and then this plan is implemented. And after implementation, later we will audit what has been done. I think that's done, and that's already a thought on the policy order," he explained.