Not Just Free, The Health Office Ensures MBG Food In Mataram Is Healthy And Safe

The appearance of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program menu in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province. BETWEEN ANTARA/Nirkomala.

MATARAM - Mataram City Health Office, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is actively taking food samples from the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program as a form of supervision to ensure food safety and public health.

Head of the Mataram City Health Office, Emirald Isfihan, said that sampling was carried out randomly and periodically for examination in the laboratory.

"From the results of the checks so far, thank God, MBG's food ingredients have not been found that have the potential to cause poisoning. For example, the average zero E. coli bacteria content," Emirald said in Mataram, Antara, Friday, September 19.

The statement was in response to cases of poisoning outside the area that occurred after students consumed MBG. To prevent the same thing, the Mataram Health Office routinely monitors and takes MBG food samples managed in each provider's kitchen.

"This step is a form of attention from the Mataram City Government to provide guaranteed food safety, health, and quality of MBG that is healthy and suitable for consumption," he said.

Emirald added that limited officers and time made sampling not comprehensive, but random. However, so far there have been no findings of poisoning cases due to MBG in Mataram City.

He hopes that the MBG program for students, pregnant women, and toddlers will be able to bring significant benefits in creating the 2045 golden generation. One of them is reducing stunting rates and preventing new cases in Mataram City.

By 2025, Mataram City is targeting a reduction in stunting to 5 percent from the current figure of 6.7 percent or around 1,500 cases.

"Through the MBG program, we hope that the target of reducing stunting cases to 5 percent by the end of 2025 can be achieved," said Emirald.