BGN Chief Sudaryono Exposes Alleged Brokers in Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — National Nutrition Agency (BGN) chief Sudaryono has exposed alleged broker practices by foundations in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The foundations are said to have no capital and no involvement in building kitchens, yet demand payments of up to Rp1,000 per food tray.

Sudaryono explained that the foundations allegedly worked with individuals inside the BGN to secure locations for Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPGs). Once other parties had built and begun operating the kitchens, the foundations then demanded a share for every meal tray.

“Broker foundations set up lots of foundations, but they have no money. So what do they do? Because they work with former insiders at the BGN, they secure locations. Then they tell other people to build. Once the kitchens are built and operating, they ask, ‘Could we have Rp500 per tray? Could we have Rp1,000?’” Sudaryono said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday (19 October 2026).

“They have no role whatsoever: they do not manage the kitchens, take part in building them or provide capital. They only have a foundation that has a location allocated by the BGN,” he added.

He said the practice was unfair because it increased the costs of implementing the MBG programme. Levies collected by parties with no role in kitchen operations could also reduce the funds available to maintain food quality.

“That adds rent-seeking. If another Rp1,000 is taken from the Rp2,000 [per tray] that should have been profit, by someone with no role at all, what happens? Food quality will inevitably fall. That is why I want to clean out these broker foundations,” he stressed.

Previously, Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan, known as Zulhas, also said the government would stamp out collusion in the MBG programme. He said deliberate violations could be taken to court.

“And if there is a deliberate mistake, clearly and unmistakably, this can be brought before a court,” Zulhas said.