Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) has called on the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to prioritize the safety of children and other vulnerable groups following repeated food poisoning incidents linked to the government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

“Even toddlers and pregnant women have been affected. These vulnerable groups must become the main focus,” said IDAI Chair Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso on Sunday (28/9/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com. 

He stressed that while the MBG program is noble in its goal to improve child nutrition, recurring poisoning cases present serious health risks.

In an open letter, IDAI demanded stricter food safety standards covering preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to prevent contamination. Pediatric nutrition experts, they said, should design balanced menus tailored to children’s growth needs.

The society urged tighter monitoring, mandatory certification for service providers, and clear mitigation procedures for poisoning cases. 

“One child being poisoned is already a problem,  let alone thousands,” Dr. Piprim warned.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)