JAKARTA – The Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) run by the government is starting to show tangible results. The latest data from the Jayapura Health Service shows encouraging results, namely the stunting rate was successfully reduced from 21.3 percent (2023) to 15.15 percent in September 2025. This figure is preliminary evidence that intervention through the provision of nutritious food has a direct impact on children’s health.
In addition to focusing on nutrition, the food safety aspect is also a serious concern. The government stated that it had taken comprehensive policy handling and evaluation steps to minimize the recurrence of incidents related to food safety.
To support this program, the quality of food suppliers in the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) continues to be improved. The National Food Agency (BGN) consistently held training. Recently, BGN trained 2,705 food suppliers from 75 SPPG in Kupang City and Ruteng City, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
IDoddy Izwardy, Chairman of the DPP Association of Indonesian Nutritionists (PERSAGI), highlighted several key things that made MBG have good standards.
Before the MBG was implemented, the experts at PERSAGI conveyed important things in the implementation of the MBG. In addition, there are nutritionists who are involved in the SPPG. They must have known the composition of the MBG menu planning. For information, our members throughout Indonesia have more than 53 thousand in 35 DPDs as well in 500 City Regencies, and we have communicated with members,” he said, quoted Thursday, November 6.
According to PERSAGI, the MBG menu has been adjusted to the nutritional dose figure according to the age level. The guidelines also adapt to the Permenkes regarding the daily nutritional adequacy rate.
“You have to meet the elements of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, the quality control process is also strict, starting from the selection of materials, storage, processing, packaging, to delivery to schools. For example, we cook oseng-oseng tauge, we will see the texture. If it is soft, we have to be suspicious, if we get to school it will be stale, we don’t let it go to the children’s table like that,” he gave an example.
More than that, the benefits of MBG go beyond just filling. He observed the behavior of consuming healthy food for school children in Indonesia starting to grow since this program started.
They now get a reference for healthy foods that may not be found at home. Children who initially didn’t like vegetables are motivated because they see their friends eating vegetables. Just like in Posyandu, children are ready to eat because of their friends. That’s the key to increasing their healthy diet,” said Doddy.
With a combination of empirical data, strengthening human resources, and expert supervision, the MBG Program not only answers short-term nutritional issues, but also investments to produce a healthier and quality Indonesian generation in the future.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language.
(system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
link