BGN Halts Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Package Distribution During School Holidays

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has halted the distribution of meal packages for school holidays under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme as part of adjusting its distribution pattern. Deputy Head of BGN’s Operational Nutrition Fulfilment Sony Sonjaya stated that previously, meals for holidays were distributed in advance to students in takeaway packages. However, this distribution pattern is no longer in use. ‘Previously, there was bundling—for example, if Wednesday and Thursday were holidays, meals for those days would be distributed on Tuesday as takeaway packages. Now, this is no longer the case,’ Sony said on Thursday, 28 May 2026. He emphasised that the efficiency measures implemented by BGN do not affect the value of aid or the quality of nutritional services for beneficiaries. ‘There is no reduction in value. The adjustment is to make distribution more effective and efficient,’ he said. In addition to stopping holiday meal packages, BGN has also changed the MBG distribution pattern from six days to five days a week to support government budget efficiency measures. ‘We support these budget efficiency measures. One form of BGN’s support is changing the MBG distribution pattern from six days to five days a week,’ Sony said. Sony explained that the policy is applied to ensure MBG distribution is more effective and targeted. ‘The concept is that MBG is provided when students are at school. Therefore, if students are on holiday or engaged in activities outside school, MBG is not provided,’ he said. According to him, the distribution adjustments are made to ensure the programme aligns with on-the-ground needs while supporting efficient government budget usage.