MBG Food Cannot Be Brought Home, BGN Reveals the Reason

Free meal illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) asks that food in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program not be taken home by beneficiaries. Food that has been received at school is expected to be consumed immediately at the place according to the time that has been determined to prevent the risk of poisoning.

Head of BGN Sudaryono said the habit of bringing home MBG food is one of the factors that need to be avoided because cooked food has a safe time limit to be consumed.

"We ask that according to the technical instructions, all MBG parents should not be brought home. Make sure to eat one, eat there, consume it in that class at the time that is allowed, and preferably not brought home," said Sudaryono in his official statement in Jakarta, Sunday, August 9, quoted from Antara.

According to Sudaryono, MBG food brought home has the potential to cause problems if consumed after the safe time limit. This condition, he said, has been found in a number of cases of suspected MBG food poisoning in several areas.

He said the impact of the food brought home was not only experienced by MBG recipients, but also family members who also consumed the food at home.

"This is a case of poisoning in several places, even those who are poisoned are not only students, but parents at home are also poisoned because of the food that was brought home," he said.

Sudaryono explained that MBG food is prepared as fresh food and does not use preservatives. Therefore, the food has a certain time limit to remain safe to consume after cooking.

"According to the normal presentation of food, after it is cooked, it must be eaten for a maximum of four hours because this food has no preservatives," he said.

To strengthen food safety supervision, BGN will also require the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to list the consumption time limit on each MBG container or ompreng.

This information will be a marker for teachers and students regarding the last time food can be consumed. Teachers are also asked to ensure that food is not consumed if it has exceeded the listed time limit.

"In addition, starting next week, we will impose an obligation to write on every ompreng that there is a sign or warning for food to be consumed before what time," said Sudaryono.

He emphasized that food that has exceeded the consumption limit should not be eaten by MBG recipients, both students and teachers.

"If the time in the ompreng is already exceeding the time stated in the ompreng, we ask that it not be consumed. Mr. / Mrs. Teacher should not consume, let alone students or students, should not consume if it has exceeded the limit of the specified time," he said.

BGN hopes that the implementation of this rule can increase discipline in the consumption of MBG food as well as prevent cases of food poisoning due to food that is stored or consumed after the safe time limit.