Parliamentary Budget Committee Proposes National Nutrition Agency Create Blacklist of Wayward Free Meal Kitchen Partners

The head of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Said Abdullah, has proposed that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) create a blacklist of nutritious free meal kitchens that fail to operate properly. According to Said, nutrition service units that prove non-compliant with operational standards for free meal kitchens should be removed from the BGN partner list.

“I recommend that BGN issue a blacklist of contractors and kitchen operators who misbehave. They need to be struck off as BGN partners, and if necessary, referred for further action,” said the PDIP politician in a written statement on Friday, 27 February 2026.

Said explained that the first priority requiring improvement in President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programme is the management of the free nutritious meal programme (SPPG), which is targeted to operate at 35,270 locations this year. Several free meal kitchen operators have been ignoring service standards and nutritional menus established by BGN.

According to Said, such practices could damage public confidence in the free meal programme. “Because of their actions endangering beneficiary children, and causing President Prabowo’s nutritional intervention targets to be unmet,” he said.

Said subsequently recommended that BGN reassess the target number of beneficiary students. The coverage of free meal recipients could be reduced from 3,000 per location to 1,500-2,000 students.

According to Said, a smaller beneficiary pool would allow SPPG kitchens to prepare meals faster and ensure food remains hygienic when delivered to students.

Said further recommended that BGN collaborate with regional and village governments as part of a supervisory committee. These local authorities, he said, could provide recommendations on SPPG suitability to BGN and conduct food quality assessments before distribution to students. “This is necessary because BGN lacks vertical institutional reach down to the local level, and should problems arise, local governments will also need to handle them,” he stated.