Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia's Deputy Home Affairs Minister, Ribka Haluk, says the suspected food poisoning incident involving children and adults who consumed meals under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in Depapre District, Jayapura Regency, should serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive review of how the program is implemented.
Haluk said a nationwide evaluation was needed to ensure food safety standards are applied consistently across all Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPGs).
She said the review should extend beyond the incident in Jayapura and be used to strengthen the implementation of the MBG program across Indonesia while ensuring food safety remains a priority.
"This incident should serve as a lesson for all of us. The evaluation should not stop at one location but become an opportunity to strengthen oversight, improve the capacity of SPPG operators, and ensure food safety standards are implemented consistently throughout Indonesia," Haluk said during a working visit to Jayapura Regency on Thursday (6 August 2026).
Haluk accompanied National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Deputy Head Major General Trenggono to Jayapura Regency to ensure patients affected by the suspected food poisoning received prompt and comprehensive medical care.
The delegation also inspected the operation of the MBG program at the Depapre Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG), reviewing each stage of the food preparation process, including the handling of raw ingredients, meal preparation, storage and distribution.
The inspection identified several areas requiring improvement, including sanitation at dishwashing facilities, food temperature control, raw ingredient storage, hygiene of eating utensils, storage of cooked meals and food distribution procedures.
"This inspection is not about determining who is at fault. It is about ensuring every stage of the Free Nutritious Meals program complies with food safety standards. Every finding will contribute to a comprehensive evaluation so that incidents like this do not happen again," she said.
She stressed that all SPPGs must strictly comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to protect the health and safety of program beneficiaries.
"Our inspection found several aspects that require improvement, including sanitation, food temperature control, storage of raw ingredients, storage of cooked meals and distribution procedures. These issues must be addressed immediately because they directly affect the health and safety of beneficiaries," she said.
Haluk also revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing a new governance framework for implementing the MBG program in Indonesia's underdeveloped, frontier and outermost (3T) regions, with a particular focus on Papua.
The framework is expected to strengthen the role of local governments, increase community participation, improve oversight mechanisms and adapt program implementation to the geographic and social conditions of each region.
As a follow-up, the ministry and the National Nutrition Agency will conduct a comprehensive review of food safety, sanitation, distribution systems and compliance with standard operating procedures at SPPGs nationwide.
The government will also strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Health, regional administrations, and the Indonesian military and police to develop a more adaptive and sustainable model for delivering the MBG program in 3T regions.