Parents Shake Their Heads at the Free Nutritious Meal Programme Menu During Ramadan
Idris Muhammad, 36 years old, was surprised to see the menu for the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) that his two young children received from the Nutrition Services Fulfilment Unit (SPPG) in Sragen City. His two children, who attend early childhood education (PAUD), refused to consume the MBG menu during Ramadan. “The reason is that it tastes bad and is not fresh,” said the Sragen resident when contacted on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
According to Idris, both his children brought home the MBG in plastic bags during Ramadan. Recently, one of his children received a dry meal consisting of one small loaf of bread branded My Joy, one pear, and one bag of peanuts. The three types of food were packaged in plastic containers. “Without any explanation of the expiration date,” he said.
Idris stated that the bread received was small in size and tasted unpleasant to consume. The fruit received was also of poor quality. Before this menu, Idris recounted that his child had also received dates. However, the dates were already dried out and therefore unsuitable for consumption.
Idris suspected that SPPG deliberately purchased low-quality food to make higher profits. By his calculation, the price of the MBG menu received did not reach between Rp8,000 and Rp15,000. “I suspect SPPG is marking up prices,” he said.
Idris’s suspicion was also fuelled by the fact that SPPG staff did not do much work during Ramadan. They did not cook or prepare food. They simply bought dry food and then packaged it. “The staff did not cook. They did not even do any preparation, because the menu consisted of dry items. At most they just packaged it,” he said.
He also questioned the role of the nutritionist at SPPG, as the composition of the food did not show the measurements of protein to carbohydrates.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) issued Circular Letter Number 3 of 2026 regarding the provision of MBG during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 H/2026 M and the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday period. This circular was signed by BGN Head Dadan Hindayana on 12 February 2026.
SPPG is required to use tote bags to package the MBG menu. Packaging must apply food safety standard operating procedures, such as checking expiration dates and product licensing, such as home food industry (PIRT) permits. Menus are prohibited from being packaged food or ultra-processed food (UPF) products.
Under these regulations, SPPG is also asked to provide two shopping bags for each beneficiary in different colours (for example, blue and red). The purpose is to differentiate between the bag previously used and the bag to be exchanged the next day.
Recommendations for packaged food menus include salted eggs, shredded meat, beef jerky, fruit, and/or other local specialities, as well as dates (optional), whilst still paying attention to food safety, food quality, and nutritional standards according to the age group of the beneficiaries.
In response to potential budget irregularities, Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency Nanik Sudaryati Deyang stated that the meal allowance in the free nutritious meal programme is set at between Rp8,000 and Rp10,000 per portion, not Rp15,000. The budget allocation of Rp13,000 for children from early childhood education to third grade primary school and Rp15,000 for children from fourth grade primary school onwards to nursing mothers is not entirely used for food raw materials.
Part of the budget is allocated for operational requirements and incentives for foundations or implementing partners. “So, we remind you again that the food material budget for early childhood/PAUD/kindergarten/Islamic kindergarten and primary school/Islamic school grades I–III is Rp8,000 per portion,” she said. “Whereas for primary school/Islamic school grades IV and above to nursing mothers, the food material budget is Rp10,000 per portion.”
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that SPPG must begin purchasing vacuum food sealing machines or vacuum sealers. This equipment, according to Dadan, can be used to package MBG menus that require airtight plastic packaging.
Vacuum food sealers can make food last longer, be more hygienic, and remain safe for consumption when distributed. This step, he said, forms part of strengthening food safety standards in the implementation of MBG during Ramadan.
On the other hand, Dadan instructed that MBG Ramadan packaging should preferably avoid simple plastic packaging. He asked SPPG to provide more representational containers or packaging for the MBG. “This is able to maintain food quality until it reaches the beneficiaries,” said Dadan in a written statement on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.