Why Students Are Urged Not to Take Free Nutritious Meals Home

Schoolchildren are cautioned against bringing free nutritious meals home to avoid food poisoning, according to the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono. The meals must be consumed within a certain timeframe, as storage conditions outside the supervision program can alter their quality. Sudaryono urged students and teachers to inform classmates not to take home free nutritious meals, emphasizing that the quality of meals stored at home cannot be fully determined, potentially leading to food poisoning.

Some parents have reported food poisoning after consuming the meals brought home. The BGN urges schools and teachers to encourage students to consume the meals according to the regulations. Sudaryono stressed that adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) is crucial for MBG food safety, following incidents of food safety violations in the program's implementation.

Suspected food poisoning cases are followed up by suspending the responsible SPPG, testing food samples, and investigating the cause.