BGN Chief's clarification on infant formula provision in MBG highlighted by IDAI

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, responded to an open letter from the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) highlighting the provision of infant formula in the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme. Dadan explained that BGN does not open the option to provide infant formula because it aims to prioritise Air Susu Ibu (ASI). ‘BGN does not open the option of infant formula because it aims to prioritise ASI. So please scrutinise more carefully,’ he said when contacted by Kompas.com, Thursday (21 May 2026). Dadan noted that BGN only opens the option to provide ‘Lanjutan’ and Growth Formula in MBG. ‘At minimum, midwives or health centres if ASI is not sufficient to support growth,’ he clarified. For the Group of Pregnant Women, Lactating Women and Young Children, BGN opens the option to provide nutrition according to needs based on field diagnosis results. Dadan then explained regarding the provision of infant formula differentiated by age stage to support children’s growth and development, namely: Its composition is designed to be as close as possible to ASI, making it the primary source of nutrition. It is formulated as a supplement as MPASI (Makanan Pendamping ASI) begins, with added protein, calcium, and iron. It functions as nutritional support for activity and the active growth period. Previously, IDAI submitted an open letter to BGN Head Dadan Hindayana, Deputy Head Nanik S Deyang, Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya, and Deputy Head Lodewyk Pusung, regarding the provision of infant formula in the MBG programme. In that open letter, IDAI gave four recommendations for BGN: