Viral Brebes Parents Own Responsibility Of MBG Poisoning, BGN Clarifies

Illustration of free nutritious food (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) clarified the polemic regarding a statement letter from Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri (MTsN) 2 Brebes, Central Java, regarding the Free Nutrition Eating Program (MBG) and emphasized that the budget is to identify students' allergies.

BGN Regional Coordinator (Korwil) Brebes Regency Arya Dewa Nugroho emphasized that BGN has never given up its responsibility in the event of an Extraordinary Incident (KLB) or a food safety incident in the implementation of the program.

"The information circulating as if BGN's hand-off is not true. From the results of mediation, MTs pulled the inquiry and explained to the student's guardian that the inquiry was withdrawn and purely distributed angket related to students' allergies," Arya said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 17.

From this incident, the MTsN 2 Brebes Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) emphasized that the scattered inquiry never intended to free up the responsibilities of any party.

Arya continued that the school also agreed to be a beneficiary of the MBG Program by signing a cooperation agreement according to BGN's technical instructions (juknis).

Meanwhile, the Head of MTsN 2 Brebes Syamsul Maarif said the budget was aimed at digitizing student readiness in the implementation of MBG in schools, including registering health conditions and potential allergies.

"The circulating statement letter intends to determine the readiness of students to receive the MBG Program, given the health conditions of students as well as allergies or incompatibility in terms of food from the program," said Syamsul.

Previously, it circulated on social media regarding a statement letter to receive or reject the MBG Program at MTsN 2 Brebes.

In the letter, students' parents were asked to sign an agreement to take personal risks and not legally prosecute the school or the organizing committee, if things happen that are not desirable due to MBG, such as poisoning, allergic reactions, and food incompatibility with the child's personal health condition.