BGN Chief: Buffet-Style Free Nutritious Meals Effectively Reduce Food Waste

JAKARTA — National Nutrition Agency (BGN) chief Sudaryono said the buffet-style Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme could be more effective at reducing food waste. He said the format encourages higher consumption among pupils.

“From some of the schemes already operating, I can see that the food is being finished and cleanliness levels are high, so people are also pleased,” he said on Friday (16 October 2026).

Sudaryono stressed that the buffet method would not increase the allocated budget of Rp15,000 per meal. “We provide the service at Rp15,000 multiplied by the number of schoolchildren, but waste is what we are concerned about. For example, pupils differ in size: even in the same Year 5 class, some are smaller and some larger, so naturally they eat different amounts,” he said.

“Previously, the portions were the same for smaller and larger pupils. Now, with the buffet, pupils can take larger or smaller portions, and if someone wants more, they can help themselves again,” he said.

The BGN chief added that pilot schemes for buffet-style MBG are already operating in several areas, including Java, Aceh and Palembang, as well as disadvantaged, frontier and outermost regions (3T), including Merauke.

“We want these pilots to be fully operational so that we can identify and mitigate every issue and address it. Then we can expand in stages: from 66, perhaps to 500 after an evaluation and improvements over the next two weeks, then to 1,000 and 1,500. It will grow gradually,” he said.

The BGN aims to have 5,000 SPPGs deliver the MBG programme buffet-style by the end of 2026. As of Friday (16 October 2026), the agency reported that 66 SPPGs across Indonesia were running buffet-style pilots.