Jakarta. More than 5,000 food poisoning cases have been linked to Indonesia’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program as of September, prompting the government to pledge corrective measures and a full evaluation of the scheme.

Head of the Presidential Staff Muhammad Qodari said Monday that official reports from three state institutions showed broadly consistent figures, with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) recording 5,080 cases, the Health Ministry reporting 5,207, and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) citing 5,320. Civil society groups put the number slightly higher at 5,360.

“This shows the data are statistically consistent, all around the 5,000 mark,” Qodari told reporters. Most cases peaked in August, with West Java recording the highest concentration, according to BPOM assessments.

Investigators attributed the food safety lapses to poor hygiene, improper food storage and preparation, cross-contamination, and in some cases, allergic reactions among beneficiaries. BPOM also found that nine out of ten food service units reporting outbreaks had been operating for less than a month, pointing to weaknesses during the initial rollout phase.

Qodari acknowledged systemic shortcomings, stating that of 1,379 food service providers (SPPG), only 312 were fully applying food safety protocols. Meanwhile, just 34 of 8,583 providers had secured official hygiene and sanitation certification from the Health Ministry. He urged stricter enforcement and called on 10,000 community health centers nationwide to conduct regular inspections.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi has apologized for the incidents, vowing recovery for victims and a comprehensive review of the program. “On behalf of the government, we sincerely apologize for this unintended tragedy,” he said.

The MBG program, a priority under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, has so far served 22.7 million beneficiaries with Rp 13 trillion ($790 million) in funding disbursed this year, according to Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara. The government aims to expand coverage to 82.9 million recipients by the end of 2025.

House Speaker Puan Maharani urged the government to evaluate the program to ensure children are not put at risk. “It must always be assessed and improved so implementation in the field becomes better, and children are not harmed,” she said.

BGN Chairman Dadan Hindayana expressed regret over what he called extraordinary incidents, but stressed that the program has already delivered more than a billion meal portions since its launch. He said the majority of poisoning cases were linked to newly established providers still adjusting to standards.

“If properly managed with no extortion, proper SOPs, and hygiene certification, the MBG program will work well and risks can be controlled,” Qodari said.