Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago

Indonesia adds expiry-time labels and buffet trials to free school meals

Indonesia’s free school meal program, known as MBG, is adding labels to every meal container with a deadline for when the food should be eaten.

The National Nutrition Agency says the labels are intended to help keep meals safe and reduce the risk of illness.

The change follows cases of recipients taking meals home, where food may be kept past its safe eating time.

Agency head Sudaryono said meals should not be eaten after the time shown on the label.

The agency is also testing buffet-style service at some school meal sites.

It hopes serving food closer to the time it is eaten will keep it warmer and fresher and reduce the chance of spoilage.

The buffet model has been used at a school in Jakarta, and the agency says it is being tried at several sites.

What people are saying

If the time has passed, it should not be eaten. It must be eaten before the stated time.

SudaryonoHead of Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agencyvia CNBC Indonesia

CNBC Indonesia · 2 hrs ago