Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency Emphasizes Collective Responsibility in Food Safety

Strategic Insights -

The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in food safety during a meeting on October 21, 2025, as part of the World Food Day series. The meeting emphasized that food issues are a collective responsibility across sectors, generations, and countries. BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar opened the event, which featured representatives from ministries, regional governments, and stakeholders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The World Food Day theme "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future" emphasizes collective responsibility in food safety.
  • Food safety is a global challenge, with 1 in 10 people worldwide becoming ill from contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths annually (World Health Organization).
  • In Indonesia, the prevalence of stunting in toddlers remains high (19.8%), with 7.4% of toddlers experiencing wasting and 9.3% at risk of overnutrition (Indonesian Health Profile 2024).
  • The proliferation of illegal food products and misleading information on social media influences people's consumption patterns, highlighting the need for education efforts.
  • BPOM has initiated various community-based food safety programs, including Safe Food Villages, Community-Based Safe Food Markets, and Schools with Food Safety Cultivation, which have reached 1,106 villages/sub-districts, 453 markets, and 17,318 schools by 2024.
  • The Germas Sapa program has a positive impact, with a study in 105 villages showing that Safe Food Villages saved up to Rp 72.94 billion by reducing diarrhea cases caused by unsafe food.

Statistics:

  • 1 in 10 people worldwide become ill from contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths annually (World Health Organization).
  • 19.8% of toddlers in Indonesia experience stunting, while 7.4% experience wasting and 9.3% are at risk of overnutrition (Indonesian Health Profile 2024).
  • By 2024, BPOM had reached 1,106 villages/sub-districts, 453 markets, and 17,318 schools through the Germas Sapa program.
  • The study in 105 villages showed that Safe Food Villages saved up to Rp 72.94 billion by reducing diarrhea cases caused by unsafe food.

Sources:

  • Indonesian Health Profile 2024 (Ministry of Health, 2025)
  • World Food Day theme "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future"
  • Press Release from the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency on October 21, 2025