Jakarta, Oct. 16 -- House of Representatives (DPR) member Surahman Hidayat has called on schools and Islamic boarding schools pesantrens to form food inspection teams to ensure the safety of meals provided under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

"Schools, madrasahs (Islamic religious school), and pesantrens should form food inspection teams consisting of teachers, school health unit officers, and committees to conduct sensory checks, ensuring the food is not spoiled before it is served to children," he told reporters here on Wednesday.

The call comes after the Ministry of Health reported 11,660 suspected food poisoning cases as of Oct. 5, most involving children who consumed meals provided through the MBG program. The cases were ...