National Nutrition Agency to Restructure Free Meal Programme Beneficiaries, Excluding Wealthy Schools

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is currently refining the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, specifically regarding the cluster of beneficiaries. The BGN will restructure the programme so that elite schools or capable recipients will no longer be eligible for MBG.

“Yes, that is correct. The intention is that those who are capable, the wealthy, will no longer receive it,” said the Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, to journalists at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday (11/06/2026).

Nanik has not yet provided further details regarding the report to be submitted to President Prabowo Subianto. She had originally intended to report today, but the meeting has been postponed until tomorrow.

“It hasn’t happened yet; it will be discussed tomorrow. It is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” she said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), requested an evaluation of the MBG implementation during a coordination meeting with the BGN. One of the primary concerns raised by Zulhas was the selection of beneficiaries.

Zulhas revealed that many elite schools are receiving MBG despite not requiring it. Conversely, he noted that some schools in need of the programme have yet to be reached, particularly in the 3T (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost) regions.

“In order to improve, we need to refocus so that these beneficiaries are accurate. For example, adjustments for these good schools will be carried out within this month. Elite schools, indeed, do not require nutritious meals,” said Zulhas following the coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (11/06/2026).

“Those who need it have not received it, yet those who do not need it have. This will be further restructured because we will focus on those who are lagging behind, specifically the very delayed 3T regions,” he continued.

Zulhas also called for improvements in kitchen quality, particularly regarding hygiene. He emphasised that there must be no further cases of food poisoning.

“We have zero tolerance regarding food safety. Even a single case of poisoning is unacceptable. Therefore, we will focus on this within this month. In a month’s time, we will review the progress,” he stated.