By Dede Leni Mardianti

Copyright tempo

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin targets all Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) to obtain the Certificate for Hygienic and Sanitary Eligibility (SLHS) within one month. This policy is one of the improvements the government promised after widespread cases of poisoning from the free nutritious meal program (MBG).”We will accelerate the cleanliness and sanitary eligibility certification so that all existing SPPGs meet the standards of cleanliness and the standards of its personnel as well,” said Budi Gunadi during a press conference at the Ministry of Health building on Sunday, September 28, 2025.SLHS is written recognition from the Health Department that a business has met quality, health, hygiene, and sanitation standards.Budi stated that they are not yet aware of the exact number of SPPGs that do not have the eligibility certificate. However, he believes that the number is still quite substantial. Previously, the Presidential Staff Office data revealed that only 34 kitchens out of a total of 8,583 operating SPPGs had the certification as of September 22, 2025.Minister Budi ensured that the government will promptly urge entrepreneurs to obtain the certificate. “We hope everything will be completed in one month,” he said.Budi is well aware that this eligibility certificate is not sufficient to ensure that cases of free nutritious meal poisoning do not recur. He believes that stringent supervision is needed in the food cooking and distribution process, regardless.He said that the Ministry of Health and the National Nutrition Board have agreed to work together to control food processes, from ingredient selection to processing and serving. “It has been agreed that we will assist together to prevent a recurrence,” he said.The decision to expedite the eligibility certification for kitchen testing is one of the six points agreed upon by the government in a cross-Ministerial coordination meeting on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The other five improvement points include closing problematic kitchens during the evaluation period and evaluating the discipline, quality, and capabilities of chefs in all SPPGs.Subsequently, SPPGs must sterilize all dining utensils and improve sanitation processes, especially waste management. All ministries, local governments, and MBG program stakeholders are required to proactively oversee this priority program of President Prabowo Subianto.Finally, the government will empower public health centers (puskesmas) and school health units (UKS) to regularly monitor SPPGs.Editor’s Choice: Indonesia’s Free Meal Program to Continue Despite 6,000+ Poisoning CasesClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News