TANGERANG-A series of food poisoning cases in the Free Nutritious Meals program across various regions has prompted the Tangerang Regency Health Office to take swift action.
To ensure the safety of beneficiaries, the Health Office is now implementing a multi-layered food safety standardization system with extremely strict protocols.
The head of the Tangerang Regency Health Office explained that this protocol covers the entire process, from raw material selection to ready-to-eat meals.
First In First Out Strategy
The official detailed the procedures that every Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit must follow.
In selection and storage, the units must ensure food ingredient quality, monitor storage temperatures, and implement a First In First Out system to prevent older ingredients from being wasted or expiring.
“Long-lasting foods, such as dry fried items, should be cooked first. Meanwhile, foods that spoil most easily, like broth or dishes with gravy, must be cooked last,” explained the official.
After cooking, the official emphasized that each menu item must be placed in separate containers. “Gravy dishes should be separated between the main item and the sauce,” added the official, to maintain quality until reaching recipients.
Strict Delivery Rules: Maximum 4 Hours and 5 KM Distance
Strict protocols also apply to the distribution stage. This is a crucial key to preventing food spoilage or contamination.
“The distance between the service unit kitchen and schools is limited to a maximum of five kilometers. The waiting time for food from completion of cooking until consumption must not exceed four hours,” stated the official.
Additionally, food transport vehicles must be monitored for safety and are prohibited from being used for other purposes.
“During serving, the food must also undergo organoleptic testing (testing taste, aroma, and texture) on ready-to-eat meals,” explained the official.
Mandatory Sterile Containers and Accelerated Certification
Furthermore, the cleanliness of reusable containers is receiving serious attention. Kitchen staff are required to ensure food containers are in completely clean condition before reuse for subsequent production.
To ensure long-term compliance and quality, the Tangerang Health Office is also urging Free Nutritious Meals providers to immediately process their Hygiene and Sanitation Fitness Certificates.
“We’re also creating a coordination forum with all service units. This will make it easier for them to coordinate and accelerate the issuance of these certificates,” concluded the official.
Through the implementation of this multi-layered process, the Tangerang Regency Government is determined to ensure the free nutritious meals program runs smoothly, safely, and free from food poisoning risks.
