Highlighting The Importance Of The Role Of Nutrition Experts In SPPG, DPR: Must Be In Accordance With Authority And Competence

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX DPR RI, Edy Wuryanto, highlighted the strategic role of nutritionists in the nutritional fulfillment service unit (SPPG), especially related to the safety and quality of ready-to-eat food. He warned that nutritionists involved in the MBG program must comply with their authority and competence.

This was said by Edy in response to the start of the implementation of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 115 of 2025 concerning Governance of Free Nutrition Food (MBG).

Edy highlighted that the Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana during a press conference related to Presidential Decree 115/2025 stated that kitchens are required to have nutritionists, but in the future nutritionists at SPPG can come from public health graduates, food technology scholars, to food safety scholars.

Edy reminded that nutritionists are a health profession. Where in Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning health states that every health profession must work according to its authority and competence.

"Tourists are the only health workers with full competence in the administration of nutritious food. They have a STR from the construction and license of practice from the government. Therefore, those responsible for food safety and health at the SPPG are nutritionists," said Edy Wuryanto to reporters, Saturday, December 6.

Because the number of nutritionists is still limited in many regions, Edy opens up space for the use of public health experts. However, the member of the DPR's health commission emphasized that this role could only be carried out as a delegation, not the person in charge.

"If the SPPG is filled with public health experts, they work to carry out the delegation of authority from nutritionists. Professional responsibility remains attached to nutritionists. Therefore, there must be the appointment of a nutritionist as a supervisor or person in charge," he said.

The PDIP legislator from the Central Java III electoral district also gave analogies such as the practice at the puskesmas when the number of doctors was lacking, the action could be taken by a midwife or nurse, but still in the appointed doctor's delegation.

With the new norms in running MBG, Edy hopes that this program can serve as a guideline for the organizers.

"This giant program must be supported by many parties. The goal is that this program that consumes quite a large government budget can be felt by the community better," concluded Edy.