Jakarta, Sept. 27 -- Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) on Friday apologized after food poisoning incidents linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program sickened thousands of recipients across several regions.

Deputy Head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang said the government took full responsibility for what she described as "food safety incidents."

"From the bottom of my heart, I apologize on behalf of BGN and all public kitchens in Indonesia. As a mother, seeing children carried to health facilities is very saddening," she told a press conference in Jakarta.

Deyang said 80 percent of the cases stemmed from failures to follow standard operating procedures by both partners and the agency's own staff.

"The biggest mistake lies with u...