October 1, 2025 | 08:38 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana explained the government’s reasons for continuing the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program despite mounting calls for its suspension following a surge in food poisoning cases.
Dadan stressed that the MBG initiative is designed to provide nutritional intervention for children in need, with meals served according to balanced dietary standards.
“This program concerns many children who genuinely require nutritional support through balanced meals. I believe this is a right that must be fulfilled,” Dadan said at the Parliament Complex on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
According to BGN data, 6,517 MBG beneficiaries have suffered food poisoning since the program was launched in January 2025 up to September 30. Cases have notably spiked in the past two months.
Dadan acknowledged the problems but insisted the government is committed to improving MBG management to ensure food safety.
“The government must guarantee that what is provided is safe for consumption,” he said.
Pressure to Suspend MBG
Despite these assurances, pressure to halt the program continues to grow. The Indonesian Economic Alliance (AEI) has urged the government to temporarily suspend MBG, citing both poisoning incidents and alleged budget misallocations.
“In essence, we emphasize that MBG should be suspended first. It should be stopped because of the massive misallocation,” said AEI representative Lili Yan Ing after a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Monday, September 29.
Similar concerns were raised by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI). Its National Coordinator, Ubaid Matraji, said the problems surrounding President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program have become increasingly complex, ranging from technical issues and regulatory gaps to broader food safety risks.
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