Antara, Jakarta – The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) proposed processed or canned fish as one of the menu items to support the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
The Director General of Marine and Fisheries Product Competitiveness Strengthening (PDSPKP) of KKP, Budi Sulistiyo, conveyed this on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, as quoted by Antara. He stated that the canned fish menu would increase protein and nutrition intake for the people throughout Indonesia.
Budi said KKP is currently compiling a list of canned fish producers which will then be proposed to the National Nutrition Agency. "Now all of our (canned fish) products are listed, we will have a coordination meeting, and we will convey, everything is in progress. Shortly, we will propose it to the National Nutrition Agency," he said in Jakarta
The data on canned fish obtained by KKP will be submitted in a coordination meeting with the National Nutrition Agency as part of efforts to support the national nutrition program.
According to Budi, canned fish will be an alternative solution for people in inland areas, where access to fresh fish is hindered by limited cold chain facilities. As such, the source of protein and nutrition from fish will still be available to the people even though they have difficulty accessing fresh fish, especially in inland areas far from the coast.
"At the beach, coastal areas are close to fresh fish. However, as you move towards inland areas, the cold chain infrastructure at the raw material level has not been established, so canned fish is one of the solutions," he explained.
Furthermore, Budi emphasized that KKP is committed to increasing public education about canned fish, explaining that processed canned fish products that meet national standards are safe for consumption. According to him, this education is important to dispel the stigma that canned fish is not as good as fresh fish, especially in kitchens and food processors.
"We will socialize about processed products that meet national standards; they are consumable. This is one of our steps when we have to educate the public," said Budi.
– Antara, RR. Ariyani Yakti Widyastuti