A Week Of Free Eating Program, House Of Representatives Commission IX: Many Complaints On The Menu Monoton

One of the students in Pariaman City, West Sumatra received the benefits of the Free Nutrition Food program. (ANTARA-Aadiriaat MS)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina, assesses that there are still many shortcomings in the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) that have been running for a week. One of them is complaints related to the variety of menus and nutritional adequacy for students targeting the program.

"We appreciate the realization of the MBG program that has been running for a week. However, we have received many complaints from the public regarding the improvement of this program where many students complained about the relatively monotonous variety of food," said Arzeti Bilbina, Tuesday, January 14.

The East Java electoral district PKB legislator revealed that this monotonous menu made many children reluctant to eat dishes from MBG. Because students get bored quickly because the menu served is relatively the same from day to day.

"This makes students bored with the food menu that is served. Especially if there is food that is reported that it doesn't taste good," said Arzeti.

In addition to monotonous dishes, continued Arzeti, there are also reports that there is a food menu that is not in accordance with the Isi Piringku' guidelines campaigned by the Ministry of Health. According to him, there is an imbalance in the nutritional standards of the MBG Program food offerings.

Some menus do not meet balanced nutritional standards. The proportion of carbohydrates, protein and vegetables still needs to be considered," he said.

Arzeti said that Commission IX received even reports in each region regarding the variety of this monotonous menu and incommensurate nutrition. Like in Palembang, South Sumatra, and Surabaya, East Java.

"East Indonesia has many complaints regarding the availability and quality of raw materials," he said.

Therefore, the PKB politician assessed that the government must move quickly in responding to various complaints and public input regarding the MBG Program. The central government, for example, can increase coordination with local governments to carry out strict supervision of catering services for MBG program providers.

"Mainer providers, for example, must pay attention to nutritional balance and menu variations so that they are in accordance with local food habits and availability," he said.

Arzeti admitted that he had communicated with MBG program stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Nutrition Agency regarding program improvements. So far, he said, the government has responded positively to various inputs from the public.

"We at Commission IX continue to monitor and encourage the government so that this MBG program can run better and provide optimal benefits for improving the nutrition of the nation's children," he concluded.