National Nutrition Agency Evaluates Free Nutritious Meal Programme During Ramadan, Focusing on Packaging and Nutritional Adequacy
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, affirmed that the BGN is conducting a thorough evaluation regarding the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme at the beginning of Ramadan, which has been the focus of public attention.
Dadan mentioned that the total evaluation of the MBG includes aspects of packaging, menu composition, and transparency in calculating the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
“We want to ensure that the implementation of the Ramadan MBG remains in accordance with nutritional standards, targets the right recipients, and is transparent in terms of budget allocation. This evaluation is important to prevent misunderstandings in the public sphere,” said Dadan in a statement on Wednesday (25/2/2026).
“It must be placed in more representative and hygienic containers that can maintain the quality of the food until it is received by the beneficiaries,” he said.
Dadan also highlighted the composition of food ingredients to be adjusted to the established raw material budget.
“Therefore, partners are asked to adjust the menu composition by replacing nuts with eggs without reducing the nutritional value,” he explained.
The price budget for raw materials for toddlers up to elementary school students in grade 3 is IDR 8,000, while for other groups it is IDR 10,000.
Dadan ensured that each School-Based Nutrition Improvement Programme (SPPG) prepares a detailed explanation regarding the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and the price of each food ingredient in each menu.
“We do not want any compromise in terms of quality. The principle is simple: the food must be safe, nutritious, and within budget. If there are ingredients that are not suitable, it is better to replace them than to force it. This is our responsibility to the community,” he said.
Dadan said that this step was taken to strengthen food safety standards in the implementation of the MBG during Ramadan.
“If unsuitable ingredients are found, the distribution can be postponed and informed to be replaced the next day. This policy is taken to ensure that the safety and health of the beneficiaries remain the top priority,” he said.
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