October 14, 2025 | 08:58 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has clarified that a viral video on social media showing the distribution of free nutritious meals (MBG) did not originate from the kitchen of the Banjar Martapura Tungkaran Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), South Kalimantan, that had been shut down. The kitchen had ceased operations on Friday, October 10, 2025, a day after reports of an extraordinary event (KLB) emerged in the area.
"We need to clarify this, the Banjar Martapura Tungkaran SPPG kitchen has ceased operations since October 10, and to date, there has been no MBG distribution activity from that location," said Khairul Hidayati, Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of the BGN, as quoted in an official statement on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
According to Khairul, the video widely circulated on social media platforms actually shows activities from the Mutiara SPPG, located in Banjar City, West Java, not Martapura, South Kalimantan. The similarity in the names of the two areas is said to be the main cause of public misunderstanding.
"The Mutiara Food Service Center in Banjar City, West Java, has no operational relationship with the Banjar Martapura Tungkaran Food Service Center in South Kalimantan. Therefore, the information that the Martapura kitchen is still operating and distributing food is incorrect," said Khairul.
He explained that the National Food Security Agency (BGN), together with the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Health Office, and other relevant parties, is currently conducting a thorough evaluation and investigation into the incident in Martapura. However, the MBG program continues with a temporary transfer of distribution to other kitchens that meet food safety standards.
"We ensure that every MBG kitchen operates according to hygiene and safety standards. The current evaluation aims to prevent a recurrence of the Martapura incident and ensure optimal service to the community," said Khairul.
The MBG project is a central government initiative that provides nutritious ready-to-eat meals to school children, vulnerable groups, and low-income communities. The BGN emphasized that this clarification is important to prevent the public from misinterpreting information circulating online.
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