KKP Proposes Canned Fish Enter Free Nutritious Food Menu

Director General of Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine Products and Fisheries of the KKP Budi Sulistiyo. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) proposes canned fish to be included in the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program menu. Director General of Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine Products and Fisheries of the KKP Budi Sulistiyo said canned fish could be one of the raw materials in the program.

"Canned fish is part of processed products. Yes (it will be used in the MBG program)," Budi said when met by reporters at the KKP office, Jakarta, Monday, November 11.

Budi said that so far canned fish have often been used for raw materials for catering businesses. Given, the size or content of the canned fish itself is 200 grams (gr).

"This can be used as raw material, because if we look at the canned fish actually, right, there is a small (around) 200 grams. Some of them do provide raw materials for the catering business," he said.

According to Budi, canned fish can be a solution to the MBG program menu because of its level of accessibility to raw materials being processed.

"If the raw materials are on the beach or coast, right, they are close to fresh fish. However, when it starts to land, the raw materials are graded and the cold chain has not yet been built. So the canned fish is one solution," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked by the media crew how to eliminate the view that canned fish are not healthier than fresh fish, Budi said his party would continue to socialize and educate the public.

"We will encourage socialization. Indeed, there is one understanding, public education is actually processed which meets the SNI standards, right, feasible consumption. This is one thing that is our step when we have to educate (the public). Now we will also expand the thinking of our services which so far may only be for processors who are cooking now," explained Budi.

Furthermore, Budi has not been able to confirm whether this proposal will be received by the National Nutrition Agency. Because, currently the KKP is still coordinating regarding this matter.

"We, right, always communicate with them. Later they will choose which one to take. (This is still a proposal)," he concluded.