Senator Mirah: MBG Food Poisoning Cases Have Become Too Widespread, Government Must Conduct Comprehensive Evaluation

11 September 2026 oleh admin

Mataram, dpd.go.id — Senator representing West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Mirah Midadan Fahmid, has called on the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program, following the continued emergence of suspected food poisoning cases in various regions, including Central Lombok on Friday (September 11).

Mirah said the issue had become too widespread to be viewed as an isolated incident or simply a problem at a single meal preparation kitchen. Based on surveillance data from the Ministry of Health as of September 2, 2026, a total of 50,059 people had been affected in 560 incidents across 36 provinces and 245 regencies/cities.

“If these cases had occurred only once or twice, we could certainly view them as technical problems at individual locations. But when incidents continue to recur and the number of victims has reached tens of thousands across various regions, this must be seen as a much broader issue. The MBG Program needs to undergo a comprehensive evaluation,” Mirah said.

She said the latest incident in Central Lombok serves as a reminder that food safety must not be treated as a secondary concern in the implementation of the MBG Program. A program serving children and other groups of society must, in fact, be subject to exceptionally strict food safety standards.

Mirah also raised concerns over compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) at Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs). In government assessments, most of the incidents that have been reviewed were linked to food safety issues and non-compliance with procedures, including during food storage, temperature control, preparation, and adherence to consumption time limits.

“SOPs must not merely look good on paper. Every SPPG must genuinely implement all of them. From the moment ingredients are received, stored, prepared, packaged, and transported, to the point when meals are received and consumed by children, every stage must have clear controls and designated persons responsible for ensuring compliance,” she stressed.

These concerns have become even more relevant following the National Nutrition Agency (BGN)'s decision on September 7, 2026, to temporarily suspend operations at 1,999 SPPG kitchens that had yet to register for Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certificates (SLHS), pending investigation. The BGN stated that compliance with hygiene and sanitation standards is an absolute requirement for MBG kitchen operations.

For Mirah, the findings demonstrate that oversight and compliance must be strengthened before the program is expanded further. The government must ensure that all operating kitchens meet the required standards, have effective monitoring mechanisms, and impose firm sanctions for violations.

“Do not view the number of victims as a small percentage of the total number of MBG beneficiaries. Even one victim is still a victim. The safety of children cannot be measured merely by the program’s success rate,” she said.

Mirah emphasized that she continues to support the MBG Program’s objective of improving nutritional fulfillment for the public. However, supporting the program’s objectives does not mean justifying weaknesses in its implementation.

“The intention and objectives of the MBG Program are indeed good and deserve our support. But a good program must also be implemented through a good system. If its implementation repeatedly results in people being harmed, then the program’s effectiveness, safety, and sustainability must be seriously reconsidered and evaluated,” she said. She urged the government to conduct comprehensive audits of SPPGs, tighten operational requirements, strengthen field-level oversight, ensure compliance with SLHS and SOPs, and make the evaluation process transparent to the public.

“We must not pursue targets for the number of beneficiaries at the expense of quality and safety. MBG must be nutritious, but it must also be safe. The program should only be expanded after the government can truly ensure that every meal provided to the public meets food safety standards,” Mirah concluded.