BGN: Raw Catfish in Free Nutritious Meals Scheme Intended for Frying at Home
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stated that the raw catfish provided by the nutritional service delivery unit (SPPG) to State Senior High School 2 Pamekasan, East Java, is marinated catfish intended for frying at home during the breaking of the fast.
Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency for Communications and Investigation, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, explained that the marinated catfish in the free nutritious meals menu (MBG) was meant to be fried at home. “It’s taken home to be fried at home,” Nanik said when asked for clarification on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Nanik stated that viral videos only displayed part of the menu, creating an incomplete perception of the food prepared by SPPG Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan. According to field reports, the meal package actually comprises several menu components: marinated catfish, fermented tofu and tempeh, pizza bread, boiled eggs, full cream milk, and dragon fruit.
“Based on the reports we received, the menu prepared by SPPG was actually complete. However, the viral video only showed part of the menu because the school refused to remove the meal package from the distribution vehicle,” Nanik stated.
Nanik emphasised that every menu in the free nutritious meals programme is developed with attention to nutritional balance and food safety standards. Each report or controversy in the field will be followed up through coordination and evaluation to ensure optimal service delivery to beneficiaries.
“The MBG programme prioritises food safety and nutritional quality. We continuously monitor and evaluate to ensure all processes from food preparation to distribution comply with established standards,” Nanik said.
Meanwhile, nutritionist at SPPG Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan, Fikri Kuttawakil, explained that the use of marinated catfish in the MBG menu was based on nutritional and food security considerations.
“We use marinated catfish first to prevent nutrient loss in the fish and to add protein that day. When marinated, catfish can stay fresh for up to a day,” Fikri explained.
SPPG Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan serves a total of 3,329 beneficiaries, comprising senior high school, junior high school, early childhood education, special needs students, teaching staff, and groups of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children in the area.
Previously, State Senior High School 2 Pamekasan rejected 1,022 portions of the free nutritious meals package scheduled for distribution to students and teachers on Monday, 9 March 2026. The school rejected the meals after discovering that the menu included raw marinated catfish that had been delivered, with some still alive.
School Principal Moh Arifin stated that the rejection applied to the MBG allocation for three days, from 9 to 11 March 2026. He assessed that the quality of the MBG menu delivered by the provider was unsuitable and posed a potential risk to student safety.
“The rejection for Monday, 9 March 2026 covers the three-day MBG allocation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So this is rejected. The three-day allocation for the 9th, 10th, 11th consists of two pieces of tempeh, two pieces of tofu, and one raw catfish,” Arifin said in the video.
He regretted the SPPG kitchen at As-Salman, Buddagan Village, Pademawu District for not prioritising food hygiene. According to him, raw catfish delivered cannot possibly be consumed by students as it would quickly decompose.
“So today’s MBG at Senior High School 2 is not suitable for distribution to students and teachers. Why? First, this still-living catfish is estimated to decompose by 12:00 WIB and contaminate other food. So we apologise to the kitchen; the school is taking this stance for the safety of the children,” he said.
Arifin even revealed finding living catfish placed in the same container as pieces of fermented tofu and tempeh. “The proof is that it’s still raw, the catfish is still raw, even the catfish’s whiskers are still intact, which is deeply regretted by the school. Because frankly it will become rubbish at school since the children will throw it away,” he said.