National Nutrition Body Uncovers Price Mark-Ups by Free School Meal Programme Partners

Jakarta – The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Board (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, has received numerous reports of partners frequently marking up food ingredient prices for the School Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG), which supplies the Free School Meals Programme (MBG). She warned SPPG heads, financial supervisors, and nutrition supervisors against compromising with SPPG partners engaged in fraudulent practices that taint the MBG programme.

“Remember! SPPG heads, financial supervisors, nutrition supervisors – never agree to the demands of, let alone collaborate with, SPPG partners who mark up food ingredient prices for the MBG Programme, especially when supplying poor quality ingredients,” said Nanik, the BGN’s Deputy Head of Public Communication and Investigation, in Solo on the evening of Tuesday, 24 February 2026.

Nanik delivered her message during a coordination meeting with SPPG heads, financial supervisors, and nutrition supervisors across the Greater Solo area. The meeting was attended by 933 MBG kitchen managers comprising SPPG heads, financial supervisors, and nutrition supervisors from Surakarta City, Boyolali Regency, Sragen Regency, and Karanganyar Regency.

During the question and answer session, numerous SPPG heads reported partners frequently marking up prices above the government’s maximum retail price (HET) and forcing them to accept low-quality ingredients. Upon hearing these reports, Nanik immediately ordered the Regional Coordinators for Surakarta, Boyolali, Sragen, and Karanganyar to document all instances.

“Go and visit them, conduct direct inspections at the SPPGs to identify where these mark-ups are occurring,” she instructed.