Facts Regarding the Moratorium on Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced a moratorium on the opening of new kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme following the detention of the BGN Head, Dadan Hindayana, and two deputies by the Attorney General’s Office on 3 June 2026.
Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, who has replaced Dadan as the Head of BGN, has made the moratorium on new kitchen construction one of her primary initial steps. The policy aims to align with Ministry of Finance directives for budget efficiency, following a programme budget adjustment from Rp 335 trillion to Rp 268 trillion.
Nanik explained that under this moratorium, the BGN will no longer approve the construction of new kitchens or Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). Instead, the agency’s focus will shift towards upgrading existing kitchens to meet operational standards, including improving food quality and human resource training. “To produce high-quality food, we must focus on improvements and training. If a kitchen does not meet standards, we will suspend it,” Nanik stated during a press conference in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 4 June 2026.
Currently, approximately 27,000 MBG kitchens are operational, yet the agency continues to receive numerous daily applications for new facilities. Nanik noted that without control, this influx could make supervision difficult. The agency also plans to evaluate kitchen requirements by region, noting that many applications are concentrated in urban and agglomeration areas. “We will sort this out first. For example, in one sub-district, six kitchens may be sufficient,” she said.
The moratorium will allow the BGN to recalculate the ideal number of kitchens needed per sub-district and regency based on the number of beneficiaries. Once this restructuring is complete, the government will decide whether to reopen applications for new kitchens.
A key priority is addressing the lack of service in underdeveloped, frontier, and remote (3T) regions, which have been overlooked in favour of urban areas. Nanik noted that President Prabowo Subiably has requested that these 3T areas be prioritised.
As part of the new leadership’s consolidation agenda, the BGN is also working on schemes to implement the MBG programme in 3T areas without total reliance on the State Budget (APBN). The agency is exploring alternative funding sources, such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from state-owned and private enterprises, international grants, and the utilisation of existing local kitchen facilities.
Furthermore, the agency is considering using school canteens and existing public kitchens in remote areas where the number of beneficiaries is relatively low, making new construction inefficient. Nanik also indicated that the target of 82.9 million beneficiaries this year is no longer the primary priority, as the government shifts its focus from quantity to the quality and accuracy of service delivery.