Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency said it suspended 833 kitchens participating in the government's Free Nutritious Meals program after inspections and investigations identified food-safety, hygiene and operational violations.

Agency head Sudaryono said the cited problems included food-poisoning cases, poor sanitation, failure to meet quality standards and inadequate wastewater management. The suspended facilities included 311 kitchens in Java and Madura, 98 in Sumatra and 424 across other regions.

The agency also stopped operational payments to the affected kitchens while they remain suspended. Officials announced disciplinary action against agency personnel, including severe sanctions for nine civil servants and lighter penalties for 39 others.

The action is an enforcement response to identified violations; it does not mean every kitchen committed the same offense. Officials said the agency would continue coordinating with local governments and other institutions to strengthen oversight of the nationwide meal program.

Source: ANTARA News, reporting the National Nutrition Agency briefing — en.antaranews.com source ↗

Source: ANTARA Foto, with the agency briefing photograph and caption — antarafoto.com source ↗

Source: National Nutrition Agency background on prior compliance suspensions — bgn.go.id source ↗