833 SPPG Frozen, BGN Guarantees Not to Disturb MBG Distribution

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) ensures that the temporary suspension of the operations of 833 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) that do not meet the standards will not interfere with the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to beneficiaries.

"We make sure that if there is a kitchen that is suspended, then the beneficiaries who were previously served will not lose their rights. We are trying to cover the service through another kitchen," said BGN Head Sudaryono as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 27.

According to him, the temporary suspension of SPPG operations is part of efforts to strengthen the governance of the MBG program and ensure that all services meet the food safety standards that have been established.

BGN has also prepared a redistributive mechanism for services so that students and other beneficiary groups continue to receive nutritious food on an ongoing basis.

A total of 833 SPPGs that were temporarily suspended consisted of 98 SPPGs in Sumatra, 311 SPPGs in Java and Madura, and 424 SPPGs in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua.

The termination was carried out against SPPG which had not met the standards of hygiene, sanitation, waste water treatment facilities (ipal), and other technical requirements related to the provision of MBG services.

This step is not intended to reduce the scope of service, but to ensure that every food received by the community is safe to consume and meets the quality standards set by BGN.

"This concerns someone's life, concerns someone's health. So the part that does not meet the standards of hygiene, sanitation, and the requirements that we have set, we must suspend," he said.

Beneficiaries who were previously served by SPPG that were temporarily suspended will be transferred to another SPPG that has met the standards.

With this redistribution mechanism, the sustainability of the distribution of the MBG program is maintained without reducing the quality of service to the community.

"The point is that we want to ensure that the menu is served well, the quality standard is good, children eat well, their nutritional needs are met, and the economy continues to run. We want everything to go well," said Sudaryono.