Cases of food poisoning in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program have resurfaced, drawing public and academic attention. Sri Raharjo, a professor of food technology and agricultural products at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM), stated that the root of the problem lies in weak oversight and the ambitious targets set to be achieved within a short timeframe.
Since its launch in January 2025, the MBG program has been linked to thousands of cases of student poisoning across several regions, including Baubau, Banggai, and Garut.
Instead of improving students’ nutritional status, these incidents have raised questions about the program’s preparedness and management.
According to Professor Raharjo, the government’s target of reaching 80 million students in the first year, as announced by President Prabowo at the State Palace, was overly hasty.
“It is a case of too much too soon, especially considering that building 30,000 Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchens requires significant funding, manpower, and systems,” he said on Friday (Sep. 26) at UGM.
He emphasized that the government should prioritize food quality and safety to ensure the security of each portion.
The recurring poisoning cases, he explained, stem from ineffective oversight since the program’s inception.
The newly established National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is considered understaffed, while the SPPGs remain far from fully prepared.
“If the number of targeted students increases, and the number of SPPGs grows, but oversight remains weak, it directly correlates with rising poisoning cases. Cooking thousands of meals in a short time also increases risks of undercooked food, toxic substances, and surviving pathogenic bacteria,” Professor Raharjo explained.
In the long term, he warned that poor management of the MBG program will harm many stakeholders.
Beyond eroding public trust, recurring poisoning incidents can negatively affect children’s health, from diarrhea to loss of appetite, which runs counter to the program’s original goal of improving nutrition.
Professor Raharjo further stressed the importance of a legal framework to ensure the program’s safety.
“Ideally, there should be specific regulations, such as in Japan, which has official legislation on school lunches. However, the legislative process will naturally take time,” he noted.
While awaiting regulatory improvements and stronger oversight, Professor Raharjo stated that schools and parents have the right to decide whether to participate in the MBG program.
They may accept or decline the food provision based on the readiness and capacity of the SPPGs.
“If they feel the program is not ready, they may decline participation without facing criminal liability,” he asserted.
With the recurrence of food poisoning cases, Professor Raharjo underscored the urgent need for evaluation and data collection regarding the MBG program.
He emphasized the importance of assessing students’ nutritional status at the start and end of the policy’s first year.
According to him, the government should ensure that such poisoning cases do not happen again.
Author: Ika Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Antara