The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has closed three kitchens of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) under the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in Garut, Tasikmalaya, and Banggai Islands regencies, following food poisoning incidents linked to their operations. 

Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, said the kitchens were shut because they failed to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“Other SPPG kitchens are still under investigation, but these three have been confirmed for permanent closure. This investigation is important because some poisoning cases were actually caused by food allergies,” Nanik told a press conference in a hotel in Cibubur on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Nanik added that investigation results would also be submitted to the police.

“If elements of intent are found, the state will pursue criminal charges against the operators,” she said.

She stressed that closure is the toughest sanction in the MBG program, with all resulting losses to be borne by the kitchen’s private managing partners.

According to Nanik, the incidents could have been avoided if operators had followed SOPs, which mandate hygienic infrastructure such as stainless steel equipment, epoxy-coated kitchen floors, and regulated layouts for cold storage and cooking areas. Moving forward, SPPG kitchens must employ at least two certified chefs − one funded through MBG’s budget and one through independent funding.

“Verification will be stricter. We will conduct routine inspections and immediately shut down kitchens that fail to comply with SOPs,” Nanik said.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Palace confirmed that around 5,000 people have suffered from food poisoning linked to the MBG program.

Presidential Chief of Staff, Muhammad Qodari, said the figure reflects an average across findings from three agencies: BGN, the Ministry of Health, and the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

BGN recorded 46 poisoning cases with 5,080 patients as of September 17, 2025, while the Health Ministry documented 60 cases with 5,207 patients over the same period, and BPOM reported 55 cases with 5,320 patients as of September 10, 2025.