Eid Holiday and Collective Leave: Distribution Plan for Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Jakarta, VIVA – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has outlined a special distribution scheme for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme during the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah holiday and collective leave period, as set out in Circular Letter No. 3 of 2026.

BGN head Dadan Hindayana said that from 18 to 24 March, no MBG distribution would take place for any beneficiaries, whether students or non-students. As a substitute, distribution will be carried out earlier.

“Distribution will take place on the last distribution day beforehand, namely Tuesday 17 March 2026, comprising one healthy food package plus three bundling packages of healthy food for MBG allocations covering Wednesday 18 March 2026 to Friday 20 March 2026,” he said when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.

He explained that bundling packages are a consolidation of MBG healthy food packages for several days’ consumption, handed over all at once. However, BGN emphasised that the maximum shelf life of the food received is three days.

“Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) are required to provide brief education on storage methods and staged consumption of bundling packages over a maximum of three days, as well as to affirm that the packages are exclusively for MBG beneficiaries,” Dadan said.

BGN also ensured that the national nutrition fulfilment programme through MBG would continue to operate during Ramadan. For the groups of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children aged 6–59 months, MBG services will run in full throughout the period.

Meanwhile, in areas where the majority of beneficiaries do not observe the fast, MBG distribution will follow the normal schedule as on regular days with ready-to-eat menus.

During the collective leave and Chinese New Year holiday period of 16–17 February 2026, no MBG distribution took place. Similarly, at the start of Ramadan from 18 to 22 February 2026, distribution of the nutritious meals was also temporarily suspended. MBG distribution resumed on 23 February 2026.