3T Regions to Receive Dry MBG Menu

The free nutritious meals (MBG) menu specifically for 3T (disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost) regions consists of dry food ingredients that do not require complex processing.

Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Public Communication and Investigation, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, stated that this policy is an adaptation to limitations in infrastructure, distribution access, and storage facilities in 3T areas.

“For 3T regions, dry food is provided, not processed food. Examples include milk, fruit, bread, and other food ingredients that are easier to store and distribute,” said Nanik in her official statement on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

With this policy, Nanik hopes that all beneficiaries still receive adequate nutritional intake despite being in areas with logistical challenges.

Nanik said that the distribution of food in the MBG programme has been regulated based on type and shelf life. For school children, it continues as usual, with a five-day distribution scheme. According to her, this policy is considered effective for maintaining the quality and freshness of the food ingredients used in the menu presentation.

“Fresh food is distributed only for five days for school children,” she said.

Meanwhile, for the category of high-risk ingredients for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B), the handling remains in accordance with the existing mechanism. “For 3B, the distribution mechanism is as usual until Saturday,” said Nanik.

Nanik emphasised that all distribution schemes still refer to national nutrition standards and food safety principles to ensure the MBG programme runs effectively and on target.

Previously, BGN stipulated that the free nutritious meals programme continues to be distributed for six days in a week for students in 3T regions and stunting-prone areas. This decision was made following a high-level coordination meeting or rakortas with President Prabowo Subianto held virtually on Saturday, 28 March 2026.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, stated that generally, students who attend school five days a week will receive MBG according to school days. However, a special policy is applied for 3T regions and areas with high stunting prevalence.

“The provision of MBG on Saturdays for areas with high stunting risk is a strategic step to ensure children receive sufficient nutrition every day,” said Dadan in Jakarta, quoted from a written statement on Sunday, 29 March 2026.

Dadan emphasised the need for careful data collection to determine the regions eligible for the special policy. The Nutrition Agency refers to the latest data from the 2024 Indonesia Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) conducted by the Ministry of Health in determining priority nutrition intervention regions, especially in eastern Indonesia.

“Our team will work with local Education and Health Offices to ensure accurate data, so that MBG is on target,” said Dadan.