Free Nutritious Meals Programme Temporarily Halted During Lunar New Year and Early Ramadan, Resuming 23 February
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced that distribution of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme will be temporarily suspended during the Lunar New Year holiday and the beginning of Ramadan 1447 H/2026. Distribution is set to resume on 23 February.
As quoted from BGN’s official website on Tuesday (17/2/2026), BGN Head Dadan Hindayana said there would be several adjustments to the distribution schedule. During the joint leave and Lunar New Year holiday period of 16-17 February 2026, MBG distribution will not take place.
The temporary suspension also applies to the start of Ramadan, from 18-22 February. MBG distribution will resume on 23 February.
This is regulated through Circular Letter Number 3 of 2026 concerning MBG Programme Services during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah as well as the 2026 Lunar New Year Holiday, signed by the BGN Head.
“The adjustment to MBG services during the holiday and joint leave period is temporary and does not permanently alter the technical guidelines. Once the holiday period ends, MBG services will return to normal operational provisions in accordance with the applicable technical guidelines,” Dadan said.
However, he noted that MBG will continue to operate during Ramadan, the Eid al-Fitr joint leave, and the Lunar New Year holiday for vulnerable groups, namely pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers.
“MBG services during Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr and Lunar New Year holidays and joint leave will continue to be implemented with due regard to the principles of balanced nutrition fulfilment, food safety, orderliness, and accountability,” he said.
Additionally, ready-to-eat MBG menus will continue to be distributed on the normal schedule in areas where the majority of beneficiaries do not observe the Ramadan fast. Meanwhile, in areas where the majority of beneficiaries observe the Ramadan fast, MBG menus will be distributed in the form of healthy packaged meals.
“In areas where the majority of beneficiaries observe the fast, MBG can be provided in the form of healthy packaged meals,” he said.
MBG distribution will also be temporarily suspended during the Eid al-Fitr holiday and joint leave from 18-24 March. He said there will be no MBG distribution for all target beneficiaries, whether students or non-students, during that period.
As a replacement, Dadan said, distribution will be carried out in advance. Beneficiaries will receive three bundled healthy packaged meal sets.
“Distribution will take place on the last distribution day beforehand, namely Tuesday, 17 March 2026, consisting of one healthy packaged meal set plus three bundled healthy packaged meal sets for the MBG allocation from Wednesday, 18 March 2026 to Friday, 20 March 2026,” he explained.
He explained that bundled packages combine several days’ worth of MBG healthy packaged meals delivered at once. He noted that the maximum shelf life of the food received is three days.
“Food Service Providers are required to provide brief education on storage methods and the gradual consumption of bundled packages over a maximum of three days, as well as to emphasise that the packages are exclusively for MBG target beneficiaries,” Dadan said.