Reviewing the Effectiveness of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Policy in Promoting Nutritional Equity Among School Children

Abstract

The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) is a new national policy aimed at improving nutritional equity among school children while reducing malnutrition and stunting rates. However, this program still faces various challenges, particularly the high number of mass poisoning cases due to the failure of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to comply with food safety standards. This study reviews the effectiveness of the MBG program in improving nutritional equity among school children, analyzes its contribution to meeting the Nutritional Adequacy Rate (AKG) among students, and identifies factors that support and hinder the implementation of the MBG program. The research method used is a literature study with content analysis of official documents, academic literature, and credible reports related to the implementation of the MBG program. The results of the study show that although the MBG program has great potential in increasing student attendance, reducing the economic burden on families, and increasing long-term productivity, its effectiveness is hampered by the weak implementation of food safety SOPs, limited human resource capacity, inadequate kitchen infrastructure, and suboptimal inter-agency coordination. The phenomenon of mass poisoning indicates a systemic crisis in food supervision of the MBG program. Therefore, regulatory improvements, strengthening HACCP standards, increasing human resource training, and conducting periodic evaluations are strategic steps to ensure that nutritional equity can be achieved safely and sustainably. The government is also expected to strengthen evaluations and make internal improvements in the implementation of the MBG program so that it does not cause more cases of MBG program poisoning in Indonesia.