BGN Chief: Buffet-Style MBG Requires School Approval

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Nutrition Agency (BGN) chief Sudaryono stressed that Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) planning to serve the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme buffet-style must first obtain approval from the school, including its headteacher, parents and pupils.

“We have to make sure this involves the kitchen. The MBG kitchen falls within our remit, but the school does not. The school must be willing to take part, which means its teachers and headteacher, as well as parents, must agree,” Sudaryono said in Jakarta on Friday.

He said the buffet-style programme was never intended to burden schools or teachers. Its primary aims, alongside improving children’s nutrition, include educating them about the importance of healthy eating.

However, based on experience, many schools have sought to adopt the buffet format, he said, because pupils enjoy the food more and finish it more quickly.

“When one class has a buffet, other classes want one, and other schools do too. We are now opening up the buffet option, but that does not mean schools can serve MBG however they like. They must register with us, receive training and demonstrate that they are ready before they can start. Otherwise, buffet service will vary from place to place, so the standards must be consistent,” Sudaryono said.

“The equipment you buy must also comply, more or less, with the standard operating procedures. You cannot just serve a buffet any way you like, because that could create problems,” he added.

BGN aims to have 5,000 SPPG units implement the MBG programme buffet-style by the end of 2026. As of Friday (14 October), the agency said 66 units across Indonesia were running buffet-style pilots.