National Nutrition Agency Clarifies Free Nutritious Food Programme Menu After Raw Catfish Video Goes Viral

Jakarta — The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S Deyang, issued a clarification regarding a viral video showing a raw catfish menu from the Free Nutritious Food Programme (MBG) at a school in Pamekasan Regency, East Java, on Monday (9 March 2026).

Nanik stated that the video only displayed part of the menu, creating an incomplete perception of the food prepared by the Nutritional Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan.

“According to reports we received, the menu prepared by SPPG was actually complete. However, the circulating video only showed part of the menu because the school refused to remove the food package from the distribution vehicle,” Nanik said in a statement on Tuesday (10 March 2026).

Nanik emphasised that each menu in the MBG programme is designed with attention to nutritional balance and food safety standards.

Therefore, she said, any reports or controversies in the field would be followed up through coordination and evaluation to ensure optimal service to beneficiaries.

“The MBG programme prioritises food safety and nutritional quality as our main concern. We continue to monitor and evaluate to ensure all food preparation and distribution processes comply with established standards,” she stated.

Regarding the use of marinated catfish, one official explained: “We use marinated catfish firstly to prevent loss of nutrients in the fish and to add protein on that day. When marinated, catfish can also remain fresh for up to one day.”

The SPPG Pamekasan Pademawu Buddagan serves a total of 3,329 beneficiaries, consisting of senior secondary school students, junior secondary school students, early childhood education students, special education students, teaching staff, as well as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers in the area.

Previously, State Senior Secondary School (SMAN) 2 Pamekasan, East Java, rejected 1,022 portions of the MBG menu distributed by SPPG As-Salman from Buddagan Village, Pademawu District, on Monday (9 March 2026). The school had raised concerns about the food quality, noting that live catfish were placed unwashed in boxes with slices of tofu and tempeh. The rejected packages represented three days’ worth of meals for the school’s students.