BGN Permanently Closes 2,000 Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens Over Hygiene Failures

Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has permanently closed more than 2,000 kitchens in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme after finding that they did not meet hygiene and sanitation requirements. The move is part of efforts to improve the programme’s governance and oversight.

BGN head Sudaryono said the closures affected kitchens that failed to meet eligibility requirements, including those without a Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certificate (SLHS). “We have closed kitchens that do not have an SLHS. In fact, we have permanently closed more than 2,000 kitchens in connection with hygiene and sanitation,” Sudaryono said in Jakarta on Thursday (29 October 2026).

He said tighter controls were needed because previous oversight had been inadequate, while thousands of kitchens operated with inconsistent standards for buildings, staff, food procurement and service.

Sudaryono cited a case in Karo regency, North Sumatra, where fish that did not fit in a refrigerator was left at room temperature for more than 12 hours before being cooked.

In Cirebon, he said, one kitchen bought cooked quail eggs already peeled, making it impossible to verify how they had been prepared or whether they were clean. In Bogor, a kitchen was found using ready-made satay peanut sauce despite having an established standard operating procedure.

BGN has also permanently closed several kitchens for what it deemed deliberate negligence, including facilities in Karo, Semarang and Blora.

“Alongside stricter hygiene standards, BGN is requiring MBG kitchen managers to submit daily expenditure reports (LPDH) before receiving additional operational funding,” he said.

Sudaryono said that of the 26,385 MBG kitchens in operation, about 6,100 had not reported their daily spending. BGN will withhold additional funding and temporarily suspend those kitchens while its inspectorate conducts an examination.

He said violations involving criminal offences would be referred to law enforcement authorities.