National Nutrition Agency Suspends 56 Kitchens Amid Food Poisoning Outbreaks
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has suspended 56 kitchens due to food safety incidents, prioritizing the safety of people, especially children. Since January, over 6,400 people have been affected by 70 food poisoning incidents.
The rapid expansion of President Prabowo Subianto's nutrition program, from serving 3 million people in April to over 31 million by late September, is suspected to have contributed to the food poisoning cases. The program's budget increased to 71 trillion rupiah ($4.2 billion) by 2025, with 62 cents allocated per meal.
Dadan Hindayana, the agency's chair, attributed the incidents to inexperienced cooks, poor-quality raw materials, and operational standard violations. Over 1,300 children in West Bandung, Java island, were hospitalized due to food poisoning symptoms. Researchers Izzudin Al Farras and Ubaid Matraji called for the program's suspension due to the high number of people falling ill. The government prepared an additional budget of 28 trillion rupiah to accommodate the increased number of beneficiaries.
Despite Prabowo's defense that food poisoning incidents were a small percentage of total meals served and his order for kitchen staff to test foods before distribution, the agency's actions reflect the seriousness of the situation. The suspension of dozens of production kitchens and the ongoing investigation aim to ensure the safety of the nutrition program's beneficiaries.
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