Indonesia has a food problem—and it’s poisoning thousands of people across the country. This past January, President Prabowo Subianto launched the MBG Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis, or Free Nutritious Meals), which aimed to supply up to 90 million people in the country with free, nutritious meals. However, what initially seemed like an excellent program to reduce hunger across the growing nation has transformed into a nightmare for officials and citizens alike.
In early January, reports flooded in from schools whose students were experiencing nausea and various other food poisoning symptoms. In the following months, growing concerns about the safety of the food led many to believe the program should end. From January to June, The National Nutrition Agency reported 1,376 cases of food poisoning symptoms amongst children, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Experts across the country fall into two camps: some are vying for broad supervision and reevaluation, while others demand that the program end entirely. Dish Saminarsih, founder of the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives, said, “The most detrimental issue is the lack of a regulatory framework…there are no regulations, no references.” Subianto, on the other hand, continues to defend the program; his campaign for it last year was a major factor in his election as president. He claims the program has created jobs while actually improving health for many children. In response to the poisoning, he said “There are shortcomings; there are food poisonings…(however) the error is just 0.00017 percent.” Health expert Dr. Tan Shot Yen pointed out that “in a shoe factory, a margin of error of zero point something might be acceptable, but here, we’re talking about human lives.”
Food poisoning cases have skyrocketed to over 5,000 children in September alone, according to The Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency of Indonesia. In total, over 9,000 children have experienced symptoms of food poisoning throughout the year.
The food poisoning epidemic can be attributed to a variety of causes. Some say the issues arise from inexperienced workers in the kitchens. A shortage of qualified cooks can result in improper cooking and cooling, as well as poor hygiene from reused utensils. Additionally, the hastily built school kitchens may lack proper equipment and sanitary procedures.
“If the government wants to continue this program, it must first fix its regulation and education,” Yen said. Thankfully, the Ministry of Health has announced plans to inspect various newly made school kitchens across the country to ensure proper food safety. Certain safety certifications have been instituted: these include the SLHS, a mandatory hygiene sanitation certificate and a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Control Point) requirement prior to opening.
The MBG Program began with a promise to feed millions of children, homeless and working class people. Unfortunately, it now serves as an example of the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity and safety over speed. Regulations are beginning to be put into place to fix the chronic problems plaguing Indonesia, and one can only hope both hunger and health will improve across the nation.
