The author is a student of the Government Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
JurnalPost.com - Nutritious food is a basic necessity that plays a vital role in supporting a child's growth, development, and health. Therefore, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which the Indonesian government began implementing in January 2025, fundamentally has a noble goal: to help meet children's nutritional needs while supporting efforts to address malnutrition and stunting.
However, good intentions are not always matched by implementation that meets expectations. When a program intended to improve children's health is repeatedly marred by suspected food poisoning, fundamental questions arise regarding the government's readiness to ensure food safety for its beneficiaries.
Has the government truly ensured that the food distributed to children is not only nutritious but also safe for consumption?
Suspected MBG Poisoning Cases Raise Concerns
The issue of food safety in the implementation of the MBG program returned to the spotlight after 48 students at Kedaloman State Elementary School 3, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung, experienced symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and vomiting after consuming food from the program on 26 October 2026.
According to reports by Liputan6 on 27 October 2026, all affected students received medical treatment and were allowed to return home after their health improved.
The operations of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchen that provided the food have also been temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, the police are still examining food samples to determine the exact cause of the incident.
It should be understood that these events are still classified as suspected cases. It cannot be confirmed that the symptoms experienced by the students were directly caused by the MBG food until the official examination results are announced.
Nevertheless, the incident must remain a serious concern because it involves the safety of the children who are the primary targets of the government program.
The case in Lampung is not the only issue that has emerged in the implementation of the MBG program.
In early September 2026, the Associated Press reported that nearly 1,950 students, teachers, and Islamic boarding school students across five provinces experienced suspected poisoning after consuming food from the MBG program.
In that report, the incident with the highest number of victims occurred in Rembang Regency, Central Java, with 777 people affected, and Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, with 730 people affected.
The same report cited Ministry of Health surveillance data as of 2 September 2026, which recorded 50,059 people affected across 560 incidents related to the MBG program. These incidents were spread across 245 regencies/cities in 36 provinces.
These figures indicate that the issue of food safety in the implementation of the MBG program needs to be handled comprehensively, rather than just through case-by-case management in individual regions.
Furthermore, Reuters reported on 29 October 2026 that government data through September showed at least 57,000 beneficiaries had been affected by food poisoning cases.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has also acknowledged that preventing food poisoning remains one of the primary issues that must be resolved immediately.
The government is reportedly planning to strengthen oversight of nearly 27,000 kitchens through the use of surveillance cameras, improved hygiene standards, and worker supervision.
This step is important, but its implementation must be truly capable of preventing similar incidents from recurring.
Food Safety Oversight Must Be a Priority
In my view, the main problem with the MBG program does not lie in the policy's objectives, but in the readiness of its implementation and the effectiveness of oversight in the field.
Providing food for millions of beneficiaries every day is certainly not a simple task. The government must ensure that the entire process adheres to food safety standards, starting from the selection of raw materials, storage, processing, packaging, to the distribution of the food.
Errors at any of these stages can pose health risks, especially when food is produced in large quantities and distributed to many children simultaneously.
This issue is reinforced by an internal evaluation by the National Nutrition Agency reported by the Associated Press. According to the agency's head, approximately 80–90 percent of previous poisoning incidents were related to failures to follow food safety procedures.
The problems identified include the storage of food ingredients, the receipt of raw materials, temperature control, and safe consumption time limits for the food.
Additionally, at least 833 kitchens were reported to have been closed for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation standards.
This condition shows that the success of the MBG program cannot be measured solely by the increasing number of kitchens or the wider reach of food distribution.
The quality of management in every kitchen must be the primary focus so that the food served is truly safe and provides benefits to its recipients.
Program Success Cannot Be Measured by Portion Count Alone
I believe the government needs to re-evaluate the success indicators for the Free Nutritious Meals program.
So far, the program's achievements have been more easily measured by the number of operating kitchens, the volume of food distributed, and the number of beneficiaries.
However, high distribution figures do not necessarily reflect the quality of service provided.
A portion of food that reaches a child does not automatically provide benefits if its nutritional content, hygiene, and safety are not guaranteed.
In fact, food that is not handled correctly has the potential to cause health problems for its recipients.
Therefore, the success of the program should not only be assessed based on how much food was successfully distributed, but also on how safe that food is to consume and how much it contributes to meeting children's nutritional needs.
Government Needs to Strengthen Evaluation and Oversight
To address these issues, the government, through the National Nutrition Agency, needs to strengthen the entire oversight system, from the procurement of food ingredients to the moment the food is received by the children.
First, every food provider kitchen must meet food safety standards before obtaining an operational permit. Inspections must also be conducted periodically, including surprise inspections to ensure these standards are maintained.
Second, all kitchen staff must receive training on hygiene, sanitation, food storage, processing, and temperature control.
Third, the food ingredients used must have a clear and traceable origin. Thus, if a food safety issue is found, the government can immediately identify the source of the problem and take necessary action.
Fourth, the government needs to build an incident reporting system that is transparent and integrated with local health offices.
When suspected poisoning occurs, the public has the right to information regarding the number of victims, the location of the incident, the progress of the investigation, and the handling measures taken.
Medical treatment for affected children must also be a priority without placing a burden on their families.
Fifth, kitchens suspected of being the source of an incident must be temporarily suspended while the investigation is ongoing. Operations should only resume after an evaluation confirms that the kitchen has met food safety standards.
These steps are important so that problems are not only addressed after victims have emerged, but also through consistent preventive efforts.
Children's Safety Must Be Prioritized
On the other hand, evaluating the implementation of the MBG program should not be immediately interpreted as opposition to the program itself.
Meeting children's nutritional needs remains a critical issue that requires government attention, especially for families with limited economic means.
The Free Nutritious Meals program has the potential to benefit the community if implemented accurately, transparently, and responsibly.
However, these benefits must go hand-in-hand with a guarantee of safety for all recipients.
The government also needs to provide broader space for schools, parents, and the community to voice complaints and participate in monitoring the quality of the food distributed.
Community involvement can be an important part of oversight so that issues found in the field can be followed up immediately before they cause greater impacts.
It must be remembered that the MBG program uses state resources and is directly related to the health of the younger generation.
Therefore, its implementation must be accompanied by clear accountability. It is not enough for the government to ensure that food has been distributed; it must also be able to guarantee that the food is safe, fit for consumption, and meets children's nutritional needs.
The success of a public policy should be viewed from the tangible benefits received by the community, not merely from the size of the budget, the breadth of coverage, or the number of activities successfully carried out.
Ultimately, providing nutritious food for children is a goal worth supporting. However, that good intention must be realized through careful and responsible implementation.
Children should receive food that helps them grow healthy, rather than facing the risk of health problems due to weak oversight.
Every incident of suspected poisoning must serve as a real evaluation point for the government, not just an issue that receives attention when it is widely reported.
Because, the success of the Free Nutritious Meals program is not determined by how much food is distributed, but by how much benefit the children receive without compromising their safety.
Author Identity
Name: Mayada Putri Balqis
Student ID: 202510050110066
Study Program: Government Science
Faculty: Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
University: University of Muhammadiyah Malang
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