Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Reprimands MBG Kitchen: If It's Just About Meeting Targets, Catering Would Suffice
Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman has cautioned the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) against focusing solely on meeting food distribution targets. Dudung stressed that the kitchens providing free nutritious meals, or MBG, must ensure the nutritional value and health benefits for recipients.
Dudung conveyed this following a surprise inspection, or sidak, of two SPPG units—kitchens providing free nutritious meals—in the Kebon Jeruk and Grogol Petamburan areas of West Jakarta on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
“If it’s just to meet food targets, catering services could do that. But the most important thing is not just serving food, but its nutritional value and health aspects. That’s what the President (Prabowo Subianto) always emphasises,” Dudung stated, as quoted from a written press release.
Not only that, Dudung also warned that MBG funding comes from public money. Therefore, the implementation of President Prabowo’s flagship project must be properly accountable. Dudung urged all parties, including foundations, SPPG managers, local governments, and others, not to treat the MBG programme merely as a business opportunity.
“If there are profits, that’s fine, but don’t let it compromise quality. This is public money that must be accounted for,” Dudung remarked.
During the inspection of the two MBG kitchens in West Jakarta today, Dudung observed conditions deemed below standard. These included dirty kitchen areas, the presence of maggots, pallets not meeting health standards, inadequate washing facilities, and hot kitchen rooms.
Additionally, Dudung found that the dry kitchen area, wet storage, and dry warehouse were still mixed together. Dudung stated that separating dirty and clean areas is a basic principle in kitchen management. Therefore, he requested that SPPGs not meeting standards be improved immediately.
“If it can’t be fixed soon, just close it down. I’ll inform the BGN (National Nutrition Agency),” Dudung said.
This former Jayakarta Military Regional Command Commander emphasised that certification and verification processes for MBG kitchens must not stop at administrative aspects. For Dudung, the most important thing is to ensure that actual field conditions truly meet health, cleanliness, and food safety standards.
“The issue of certificates and verification isn’t limited to administration alone, but must be thoroughly assured, especially health factors for beneficiaries. These two kitchens I inspected are not fit,” he said.
The Presidential Staff Office, according to Dudung, has coordinated with the Head of BGN and Deputy Head of BGN to follow up on field findings. “After seeing the conditions directly in the field, we urge the Head of BGN to suspend kitchens that don’t meet standards,” he stated.