National Nutrition Agency Denies Free Nutritious Meals Distributed During Pre-Dawn Sahur

Jakarta, VIVA – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has addressed a video circulating on social media about the distribution of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) during pre-dawn sahur, confirming that the claim is untrue and constitutes a hoax.

BGN Deputy Head for Public Communication and Investigation, Nanik S. Deyang, explained that the agency continues to distribute MBG in accordance with Circular Letter Number 3 of 2026 issued by the Head of the National Nutrition Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, concerning the Free Nutritious Meals Programme Service during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447H/2026M as well as the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday period.

“Under these provisions, there is no scheme for distributing meals during sahur. We wish to clarify that MBG during Ramadan is only distributed on Mondays and Thursdays, with official service hours from 08.00–09.00 WIB and 11.00–12.00 WIB,” she said in an official statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Nanik explained that this schedule applies to the collection mechanism at Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), deliveries to schools, and dispatches through scheduled handover points.

For boarding schools and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), she continued, meals are prepared during the daytime and served at iftar in coordination with the educational institutions.

At the beginning of Ramadan, from 18 to 22 February 2026, MBG distribution was not carried out. Distribution resumed from Monday, 23 February 2026, continuing to follow the twice-weekly service pattern every Monday and Thursday.

For areas where the majority of beneficiaries are observing the fast, she said, MBG is provided in the form of healthy packaged meal parcels that can be consumed at iftar or gradually.

These parcels are produced and packaged by SPPG whilst maintaining balanced nutrition standards and food safety requirements.

“The schedule and mechanisms have been clearly set out in the Circular Letter. We urge the public not to be easily provoked by misleading content and to always refer to official information,” said Nanik S. Deyang.