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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Indonesia Closes 504 Nutrition Kitchens Over Sanitation Failures

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) permanently closed 504 nutrition service units for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program due to sanitation violations.
  • Health checks revealed hundreds of kitchens failed to meet sanitation requirements, prompting the closures based on Ministry of Health reports.
  • The agency is accelerating checks on approximately 3,000 other MBG kitchens, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for food poisoning incidents.

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has permanently shut down 504 kitchens serving the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, citing critical sanitation failures. The decision follows reports from the Ministry of Health detailing that these facilities did not meet required hygiene standards.

Until today, the report as of last Monday, there are 504 kitchens, according to reports from the local health offices across Indonesia submitted through the Ministry of Health, that we have permanently closed because they were deemed unfit to be used due to sanitation issues.

— SudaryonoHead of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) explaining the reasons for the permanent closure of 504 kitchens.

"Until today, the report as of last Monday, there are 504 kitchens, according to reports from the local health offices across Indonesia submitted through the Ministry of Health, that we have permanently closed because they were deemed unfit due to sanitation issues," stated BGN Head Sudaryono.

The agency indicated that the number of closures could rise, as health departments are currently inspecting around 3,000 other MBG kitchens nationwide. Sudaryono stressed the urgency of these checks, stating, "The remaining approximately 3,000 that have registered are currently being checked by their respective local health offices, which we are waiting on. If they are unfit, then, forgive me, this is a matter of people's lives, the lives of our children, we cannot help them anymore."

The remaining approximately 3,000 that have registered are currently being checked by their respective local health offices, which we are waiting on. If they are unfit, then, forgive me, this is a matter of people's lives, the lives of our children, we cannot help them anymore.

— SudaryonoHead of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) discussing the ongoing inspections of other MBG kitchens.

BGN expressed gratitude to local governments for their assistance in overseeing and addressing food safety concerns related to the MBG program. The agency reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding any food poisoning incidents linked to the program.

We express our appreciation and gratitude from the National Nutrition Agency. The point is we also want to emphasize that our desire is zero tolerance for poisoning incidents going forward.

— SudaryonoHead of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) on the agency's stance against food poisoning.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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