Not Just Eggs and Fish: Snails Now Considered for Stunting Prevention

The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions is developing local food sources, including animal protein, to help tackle malnutrition and stunting in disadvantaged areas. One effort being trialled is preparing snails as an alternative food for children in West Sumba.

Samsul Widodo, the ministry’s Director General for Accelerating Development in Disadvantaged Regions, said snails were being introduced to children even though they are not traditionally eaten by the local community.

“In West Sumba, we are trying to prepare snails and other foods to prevent stunting. Although people there do not traditionally eat snails, the children like them. This is what we are trying to develop,” Samsul said at an online event in Jakarta on Tuesday (20 October 2026).

According to Samsul, making use of local food is one approach to addressing food security and nutrition in disadvantaged regions. Meeting people’s nutritional needs, he said, cannot rely solely on carbohydrate-rich foods.

“The biggest issue is animal protein,” Samsul said.

He said the availability of animal protein remained a challenge in meeting food needs in a number of disadvantaged areas. Developing alternative food sources is therefore necessary to widen people’s options for meeting their nutritional needs.

The preparation of snails in West Sumba is one trial aimed at introducing children to a different food source. Although snails are not part of the local community’s eating habits, children have responded positively to them once they are prepared.

Efforts to prevent stunting are linked to children’s nutrition, including adequate animal-protein intake. Developing local foods is also expected to help communities use resources available in their surroundings to support food and nutritional needs.