TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, claims that there is no intervention of formula milk for infants in the free nutritious meal (MBG) program. This statement was made in response to an open letter from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) requesting the BGN to stop the use of formula milk for infants in the MBG program.
"For infants aged 0-6 months, there is no intervention of formula milk in the MBG program. Therefore, MBG does not provide any option for infant formula," said Dadan when contacted on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Dadan stated that the provisions for giving milk in the MBG program refer to Health Law Number 17 of 2023, Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 concerning Health, and the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) that protect exclusive breastfeeding.
As a result, formula milk is only provided in the MBG program for advanced formula to infants aged 6-12 months and for growth formula to children aged 12-36 months. Dadan mentioned that these products can only be used as specific nutritional intervention options in the MBG program with strict medical criteria and indications, recommended by healthcare professionals or doctors.
"This means it is not a substitute for breast milk, not for free or mass distribution, not for promoting the milk industry, and only given in specific cases and times in accordance with applicable regulations," said Dadan.
However, the BGN does not completely prohibit the use of formula milk for infants. The Deputy Director for Systems and Governance's decision number 004/05/03/SK.04/02/2025, regarding technical instructions, standards, provision, and distribution of milk in the MBG program, includes provisions for providing formula to babies. For example, there is an obligation to boil drinking water and milk powder together at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius when preparing baby formula.
According to Dadan, these technical instructions serve as a guideline for when baby formula is necessary. "Only if needed," he said.
Furthermore, Dadan conveyed that the BGN, together with the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, and the National Development Planning Agency, is currently harmonizing several regulations regarding the provision of nutritional intervention in the MBG program. The government will revise several policies to ensure that all regulations remain aligned and do not cause multiple interpretations in society.
Previously, the Breastfeeding Task Force and the Nutrition Unit of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association wrote an open letter to the Head of the National Nutrition Body, Dadan Hindayana, and three other leaders. The open letter provided input on implementing formula milk in the free nutritious meal program.
The open letter was uploaded to the @idai_ig Instagram account on Thursday, May 21, 2026. According to IDAI, the policy of distributing formula milk on a large scale in the MBG program risks causing mothers to stop breastfeeding. Furthermore, this policy is implemented without a doctor's examination or medical justification.
They urge policy improvements in the implementation of the MBG for infants and children. "Don't let today's policy make (infants and children) lose something important," said IDAI.
Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article
Read: IDAI Reacts to Mass Formula Milk Rollout in MBG Program
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
