Jakarta, Sept. 25 -- Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) said Thursday it will fully cover medical costs related to food poisoning cases tied to the government's Free Nutritional Meal (MBG) program in schools.

"We have funds from operational and emergency budgets. For example, in Banggai, Central Sulawesi, we paid Rp350 million (about $20,000) in hospital bills," BGN Deputy Head Nanik S. Deyang told reporters.

She stressed that parents, schools, and local governments will not be charged. "The hospital just needs to call us," Deyang added.

To prevent future incidents, BGN is enforcing stricter standards at Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs), requiring all kitchen staff to be certified by an official culinary institution...