BGN Reiterates It Will Not Offer Infant Formula Options for MBG Program, Prioritises Breastfeeding

JAKARTA – The head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said there are no options to provide infant formula for babies in the Free Nutritious Food (MBG) programme. Responding to an open letter from the Indonesian Association of Pediatric Doctors (IDAI) which highlighted the provision of formula in the MBG, Dadan stated that BGN only offers options for follow-on formula and growth formula. ‘For infants, we open the option of follow-on and growth formula if needed. BGN does not open options for infant formula because we want to prioritise exclusive breastfeeding,’ he told Kompas.com on Thursday, 21 May 2026. However, Dadan added, the provision of follow-on and growth formula is not undertaken lightly; it must go through recommendations from a nutritionist of SPPG or at least a local midwife and Community Health Clinic (puskesmas). Meanwhile, for the group ‘Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Mothers and Young Children’, there is an opened option to provide nutrition according to needs based on field diagnosis results. Dadan explained that the provision of infant formula differs by age stage to support growth and development. In Stage 1, Infant Formula is for newborns to six months. Its composition is designed to be as close as possible to breast milk, making it the main source of nutrition. ‘BGN again does not open infant formula options, only Follow-on and Growth,’ he said. ‘Formulated as a supplement as MPASI begins, with added protein, calcium, and iron,’ he added. Then Stage 3 and beyond, i.e. growth formula is intended for toddlers (aged 1–3 years or older). ‘Functions as a nutritional support for activity and their active growth,’ he said. IDAI had previously issued an open letter addressed to BGN’s head Dadan Hindayana, and to the BGN vice chairs Nanik S. Deyang, Sony Sonjaya, and Lodewyk Pusung, concerning the provision of formula in the MBG programme.