National Nutrition Agency Responds to Claims of Ramadan Free Nutritious Meal Menu Deviating from Budget

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has reiterated that the raw food ingredient budget for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is set at Rp8,000–Rp10,000 per portion, not Rp15,000.

The statement was made by BGN Deputy Head for Communications and Investigation Nanik S. Deyang in response to widespread social media discussion regarding Ramadan menus deemed to deviate from the established budget provisions.

“We wish to remind everyone that the food ingredient budget for toddlers, early childhood education, kindergarten and primary school years 1–3 is Rp8,000 per portion. Meanwhile, for primary school year 4 and above through to breastfeeding mothers, the food ingredient budget is Rp10,000 per portion,” Nanik S. Deyang said when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She added that the total budget of Rp13,000 for toddlers through to year 3 primary school pupils, and Rp15,000 for year 4 pupils and above through to breastfeeding mothers, is not entirely allocated to food ingredients. A portion of the budget is designated for operational needs and incentives for foundations or implementing partners.

Operational costs also cover vehicle incentives, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (workers’ social security) payments for volunteers, incentives for posyandu (community health post) cadres who distribute food for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers, the purchase of personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies, fuel costs for MBG vehicles, and operational expenses for food processing centre heads and their teams.

A further Rp2,000 per portion is allocated for land and building rental, encompassing a kitchen, four warehouses, two dormitory rooms, the construction of a Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL), water filtration, and the rental of modern cooking equipment ranging from rice cookers, tray washing heaters, stoves, refrigerators and cold storage for raw ingredients, pots, through to tray rental.

Nevertheless, BGN remains open to feedback and reports should there be indications that MBG menus fall short of the established budget allocation.

“Every report will be followed up professionally, objectively and in accordance with applicable supervisory procedures, to ensure the implementation of the MBG Programme runs in line with the established provisions and standards,” said BGN Deputy Head Nanik S. Deyang.