Jakarta, Sept. 28 -- The government will tighten monitoring of its Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program by involving community health centers (puskesmas) and school health units (UKS) after a series of food poisoning cases, a senior minister said on Sunday.

"We have asked the Health Minister to instruct all puskesmas and UKS to actively monitor SPPGs," Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan told a press briefing at the Health Ministry. He was referring to the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units, or kitchens supplying food for the program.

The move was among the key measures discussed during a coordination meeting earlier in the day to address outbreaks linked to the MBG program, Hasan said.

He stressed that tighter monitoring is...