Prabowo targets zero error in free meals program despite cases

hartono · Oct 18, 2025

President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech at the University of the Republic of Indonesia (UKRI) in Bandung City, West Java, Saturday, October 18, 2025. ANTARA/Rubby Jovan

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has reiterated his commitment to improving the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to prevent future food poisoning incidents.

“We aim for zero error, zero defect. It’s difficult, but we must. All kitchens have been instructed to use the best sanitation equipment. We will continue to perfect the program,” Prabowo stated during a speech at the University of the Republic of Indonesia (UKRI) here on Saturday.

He acknowledged that the MBG program is not yet flawless, with several thousand children having experienced digestive issues or food poisoning since the program began.

However, Prabowo emphasized that these incidents do not reflect a failure of the program.

“There have been a few thousand cases of stomach upset and food poisoning, but the focus has been solely on those, as if the program should be stopped,” he said.

To date, the MBG program has served 36.2 million beneficiaries, distributing over 1.3 to 1.4 billion food portions.

He stated that of that number, about eight thousand cases of food poisoning were reported, equal to just 0.0007 percent, indicating a 99.99 percent success rate.

“Where else do you see a human effort with 99.99 percent success being labeled a failure? Still, we do not want a single child falling ill,” Prabowo affirmed.

According to him, the food poisoning cases may have been caused by various factors, including the quality of ingredients and hygiene during preparation.

Therefore, he called for enhanced hygiene standards in all MBG kitchens.

He also urged teachers to promote clean and healthy habits before the children consume the meals provided.