Hoax! Free Nutritious Meals Programme to be provided twice daily from 1 June 2026

A post on social media platform TikTok has narrated that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) will be provided twice a day to school students starting 1 June 2026, covering both breakfast and lunch. The post features a photo of President Prabowo Subianto with several students enjoying a meal under the MBG programme at a school. The post’s narrative stated: “Because a small faction continues to call for the MBG Programme to be halted, from 1 June 2026 MBG portions will be increased to two per day (breakfast and lunch).” However, is it true that the MBG Programme will be provided twice daily from 1 June 2026? Based on investigation, no official information or announcement has been found from the government or the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stating that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme will be given twice a day starting 1 June 2026. The photo used in the post is identical to an image published by Tribun in an article titled “Prabowo Affirms MBG Programme Will Continue, No Mismanagement Allowed”. In its original context, the photo was used as an illustration for news regarding President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to continue the MBG Programme, as it is considered important and strategic for the community. The illustrative photo is also known to have been created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Meanwhile, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S. Deyang, explained that the government is currently seeking efficiencies in the implementation of the MBG Programme, one of which is by utilising school canteens as alternative food preparation kitchens. This policy is particularly applied in areas with a relatively small number of beneficiaries, where constructing new kitchens is deemed less effective. According to Nanik, this approach can be applied in remote areas as well as frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions. She cited an example of a school in West Lombok with only 119 pupils, making the use of existing facilities more efficient than building a new kitchen. Thus, the claim stating that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme will be provided twice daily from 1 June 2026 is false information or a hoax.