BGN Removes 39,000 Students from Free Nutritious Meal Programme Recipient List, Here's Why

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is conducting a review or refocusing of beneficiaries for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. One method is halting MBG distribution to schools deemed self-sufficient. BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari explained that as of Thursday, 18 June 2026, 76 schools and 39,352 students on Java Island had been removed from the MBG recipient list. She noted the figure will continue to rise as the refocusing effort remains ongoing. “As of today, 76 schools in Java with 39,352 student beneficiaries will be streamlined by reallocating the budget originally intended for them towards the MBG programme for children who require nutritional intervention,” she stated during a press conference at the BGN Office. She revealed the decision was made because the 76 schools were considered capable of independently meeting their students’ nutritional needs. Consequently, BGN no longer needs to distribute MBG to those schools. Agustina stated that BGN will redirect MBG distribution from these schools to others, including those in the 3T regions (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost). Additionally, the agency will prioritise groups of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in MBG distribution. “Ladies and gentlemen, the figures above will continue to be updated. As I mentioned earlier, these numbers are provisional as of today. We are still working to improve data quality, because data is crucial as a basis for us to make policies regarding the refocusing of beneficiaries,” she said. She explained that BGN uses several indicators to remove these schools, including nutritional vulnerability, socio-economic conditions, and access to nutritional fulfilment. “For those who can independently meet their nutritional needs due to conditions such as being in a high economic decile, the Free Nutritious Meal programme will not be provided,” she stated. She emphasised this is done to ensure the MBG programme is precisely targeted, especially as the government is also implementing efficiency measures in the programme’s execution.