Jakarta, Sept. 28 -- The government will require all kitchens supplying food for its Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to obtain hygiene and sanitation certificates to curb rising cases of food poisoning, a senior minister said on Sunday.

"It is mandatory. Every SPPG (Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit) must have a hygiene and sanitation certificate," Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan told a press conference on handling MBG-related outbreaks at the Health Ministry in Jakarta.

He said the government would begin checks to ensure compliance, stressing that the safety of children receiving meals under the program was the top priority.

Hasan added that he had asked Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to maximize the role of ...