The head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Sudaryono has asked teachers to join students in eating the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) menu in the classroom. Sudaryono made this request during a coordination meeting with the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti and officials from the central and regional BGN, which discussed the implementation of the MBG programme.
Sudaryono said teachers can take advantage of the opportunity to eat together as a means to educate students about hygiene and eating etiquette. Teachers are also asked to serve as the final organoleptic inspectors to ensure that food is in a condition fit for consumption before being distributed to students.
BGN will implement new rules starting next week by marking each MBG package with the consumption time limit. Sudaryono asked teachers and students not to consume food that has exceeded this time limit because it can experience a decline in quality.
Sudaryono also highlighted the habit of some students taking home MBG food to give to their families at home. He understands the reason for this but has asked that the habit be stopped because the food can spoil and potentially cause food poisoning among the families who receive it, including the students' parents.
For this reason, Sudaryono has asked schools to record students who take home MBG and to inform parents about the risks of consuming food that has exceeded the specified time limit.
