BGN Makes MBG Poisoning a Fatal Category, Sanctions Tightened

Free meal illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has raised the status of the free nutritious food poisoning (MBG) case to a fatal incident following the incident that befell a number of beneficiaries at SMKN 6 Semarang. This policy was taken as a form of tightening supervision because the poisoning case was considered directly related to the safety of the beneficiaries, especially children.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Sudaryono, said the change in status was decided in an evaluation meeting as a response to the case of MBG poisoning that occurred.

"We have raised the status that indeed the poisoning case is no longer a prominent incident. In accordance with the meeting, we decided that poisoning is a fatal incident," Sudaryono told reporters, Monday, August 3.

According to Sudaryono, the decision was made because food poisoning concerns public safety and health, especially children who are recipients of the MBG program.

"This concerns someone's life, concerns someone's health. Someone who is the child of a father and mother, a member of a family, so that health, security, and life are very important," he said.

He hopes that the MBG poisoning incident in Semarang will be the first and last case during his tenure as head of the national nutrition agency.

As a follow-up, BGN will impose sanctions in the form of temporary suspension (suspend) of the kitchen or nutrition fulfillment service unit (SPPG) which is suspected to be the source of the problem. This step is carried out while waiting for the results of a thorough investigation.

"While we are looking at it, the kitchen is suspended and then we investigate. We investigate the results of the laboratory together with the local health service. Then we evaluate the kitchen, whether the hygienic standards are not achieved or there are other causes," he said.

In addition to checking the kitchen facilities, BGN will also investigate the parties responsible for the operation of the SPPG, including the head of the kitchen.

"We also investigate internally, with employees or people who work there. In particular, the most responsible is the head of the kitchen or the head of the SPPG. We have removed the head of the SPPG," he said.

Sudaryono added that the results of the investigation would be the basis for the BGN to impose further sanctions on those proven to be negligent.

"Further investigation is a consideration for us to make the next decision, whether to dismiss as an ASN PPPK or to be considered when extending the status of PPPK," he explained.

In the implementation of the free nutritious food program, BGN emphasized the implementation of the zero tolerance principle against food poisoning cases.

This policy was taken so that similar incidents would not be repeated because it concerns the safety and health of the beneficiaries.