Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has maintained its full support for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program despite calls from the Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to suspend it following a string of mass food poisoning cases.

“We experienced incidents that did not go as expected, and we must improve ourselves,” BPOM Chief Taruna Ikrar said in Jakarta on Monday (22/9/2025), as reported by antaranews.com. 

He explained that BPOM, as part of the president’s team, is responsible for overseeing MBG kitchens and distribution to ensure compliance with safety standards. Recent cases, he added, should serve as lessons to strengthen procedures.

BPOM has deployed regional offices in coordination with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to investigate the poisoning incidents. From January to September 2025, authorities recorded 5,626 food poisoning cases across 17 provinces, including recent outbreaks in Central Sulawesi, West Java, and Southeast Sulawesi. 

BGN has apologized and dispatched emergency teams to affected areas, while 

(mg/inp/pr/rs)