Food Safety Governance of Free Nutritious Meals Program

Integration of Hygiene and Sanitation Certification and Operational Supervision in Palembang

Abstract

The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program requires an effective food safety assurance system to prevent contamination and foodborne disease throughout all stages of food service operations. This study analyzed the implementation of the Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certificate (SLHS) and operational supervision in ensuring food safety within the MBG program and developed an integrated food safety assurance model (IFSAM). Seven informants were selected by purposive sampling based on their involvement in the program: a representative of the Palembang City Health Office, a sanitarian, a Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit manager, a food handler, an MBG program supervisor, a school principal, and the head of the National Nutrition Agency office serving South Sumatra province. Data were analyzed thematically, with source and method triangulation to establish the trustworthiness of the findings. The results indicate that the SLHS serves as a system readiness mechanism by ensuring the preparedness of food service providers through compliance with hygiene and sanitation standards, while operational supervision functions as an implementation compliance mechanism that maintains the consistent application of standards throughout food production, distribution, and serving. The study also identified several challenges, including suboptimal risk-based monitoring, limited supervisory resources, insufficiently integrated cross-sectoral coordination, and as yet unsystematic feedback and follow-up mechanisms, potentially affecting the effectiveness of food safety assurance. The IFSAM integrates certification, operational supervision, cross-sectoral coordination, feedback mechanisms, and continuous improvement as a conceptual framework for food safety assurance in the MBG program.