BGN Explains Marinated Catfish as Free Nutritious Meal Menu at Pamekasan School: Intended as Iftar Side Dish
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has explained why marinated raw catfish has been included as one of the menu items in the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) at SMA Negeri 2 Pamekasan, Madura, East Java. According to BGN Deputy Chief Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, the catfish menu is intended for students to use as a side dish at home during their iftar meals.
“It’s meant to be a side dish at home when they break their fast,” Nanik told journalists on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
Nanik noted that if students attend school regularly, meal distribution cannot be consolidated. She stated that BGN had already admonished the school’s management regarding this matter.
“Actually, if children attend school every day, meal provision cannot be consolidated. We have already reprimanded the head of the school’s management,” she said.
She further explained the rationale for selecting marinated catfish as one of the MBG menu options in Pamekasan. Nanik noted that the catfish could be prepared for iftar or sahur (pre-dawn meal).
“If served cooked, there’s a concern it might be cold by the time it gets home. If marinated, it can be fried at iftar or sahur time,” she explained.
Meanwhile, nutritionist Fikri Kuttawakil from Pamekasan’s school feeding programme (SPPG) explained that the use of marinated catfish in the MBG menu was based on nutritional considerations and food preservation. He noted that marinated catfish can remain fresh for up to one day.
“We use marinated catfish, firstly to prevent loss of nutrients in the fish and to add protein that day. When marinated, catfish can also remain fresh for up to one day,” Fikri stated in a released statement.
Nanik further explained that according to field reports, the food package prepared by SPPG actually consists of several menu components: marinated catfish, fried tofu and tempeh, pizza bread, boiled eggs, full-cream milk, and dragon fruit. She noted that the viral video circulating only showed part of the MBG menu.
“Based on reports we received, the menu prepared by SPPG is actually complete. However, in the viral video, only part of the menu is visible because the school refused to remove the food package from the distribution vehicle,” Nanik said.
BGN emphasised that every menu item in the MBG programme is arranged with attention to nutritional balance and food safety standards. As such, every report or controversy in the field will be followed up through coordination and evaluation.
“The MBG programme prioritises food safety and nutritional quality as paramount. We continue to monitor and evaluate to ensure that the entire process from food preparation to distribution operates according to established standards,” she said.
Previously, a video showing the school’s rejection of the MBG menu package at SMA Negeri 2 Pamekasan went viral on social media. In the video, school officials rejected the food distribution, deeming it unsuitable for distribution to students.
According to detikJatim on Tuesday (10 March 2026), the rejection occurred on Monday (9 March). The rejected menu was intended to cover three days of MBG rations: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The food package sent from the SPPG kitchen contained two pieces of tempeh, two pieces of tofu, and one live catfish. School representatives expressed concern that the live or raw catfish would decompose quickly.
“This live catfish is estimated to decay around 12.00 noon and could contaminate other food. So we apologise to the kitchen staff, but the school must prioritise the safety of our students,” a school representative said in the video.
The recording also showed the catfish in raw condition, with its whiskers still intact. This became the school’s primary reason for deeming the food unsuitable for distribution to students.
The MBG originated from SPPG run by the As-Salman Buddagan Foundation. The SPPG provided an explanation regarding the school’s rejection of the MBG menu. Nutritionist Fikri Muttawakil from the As-Salman Buddagan Foundation’s SPPG confirmed the school’s rejection of the menu. The focus of concern was the prepared catfish dish provided to students.
“The catfish in question is marinated catfish,” Fikri clarified in his explanation video.