ACEH BESAR, thekabarnews.com—The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Sudaryono conducted an unannounced inspection of a Free Meals (MBG) program kitchen in Aceh Besar before dawn on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The BGN tightened its oversight of food safety and operational discipline during this visit.

Sudaryono arrived at the Cadek Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) at approximately 4:45 a.m. WIB. The SPPG is located in Cadek village, Baitussalam district, Aceh Besar regency. It is not administratively within Banda Aceh, as some initial reports stated.

Staff were preparing meals when Sudaryono examined the production area and storage rooms for wet and dry ingredients. He also checked the packaging section, food-sample testing area, portion sizes and nutritional information before distribution to schools.

“I came here not to get angry. We are here to make sure everything is in order and to encourage you and all our teams across Indonesia,” Sudaryono said during the visit.

He praised the Cadek staff for wearing masks and following hygiene requirements, saying he found no reason to reprimand the team. However, he emphasized that every SPPG must consistently follow the agency’s standard operating procedures. This is because a failure at one facility can undermine confidence in the national program.

“We are trying to place the interests of beneficiaries above everything else. The safety and health of consumers—both students and the 3B groups of toddlers and women in pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers—are the number-one priority,” he said.

BGN currently conducts virtual attendance checks twice daily. SPPG managers, nutritionists and accountants must join an afternoon check when ingredients arrive. Additionally, they must join another session during food preparation at around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.

BGN is also developing a system that would connect surveillance cameras at SPPGs to a central monitoring platform. Sudaryono said artificial intelligence (AI) could help identify whether employees were wearing masks and complying with operating procedures.

“We are working to send the images to the central system and use AI to detect compliance automatically, including whether staff wear masks and follow the SOP,” he said.

The inspection came as BGN continued expanding the meal program into underserved areas. On the same day, the agency announced the activation of SPPGs in 16 provinces. It focused on remote and disadvantaged regions as well as districts with high stunting prevalence.

Sudaryono has repeatedly told meal-kitchen personnel to combine professional discipline with personal responsibility.

“Work with your heart—work with your heart. And follow the SOP,” he said during an earlier inspection in Jakarta. “There must be no negligence, not even a little.”

For the MBG program to produce lasting results, BGN must measure more than the number of meals served. Consistent food safety, accurate beneficiary records and demonstrable improvements in children’s nutrition will determine whether the nationwide program achieves its public-health goals.