Ramadan MBG Menu Deemed Unbalanced, BRIN Researcher Urges More Eggs

Jakarta — Prof. Fitrah Ernawati, a researcher at the Center for Public Health and Nutrition Research within the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), proposed increasing the number of eggs in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme distributed during the Ramadan month. ‘During Ramadan, eggs are actually shelf-stable; I would prefer eggs,’ Fitrah said during a discussion in Jakarta on Friday, 6 March 2026. She responded to reports that some Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) provide instant meals or processed biscuits for students after breaking their fast. She noted that there are reports of MBG menus comprising bread, milk, and dragon fruit distributed for consumption over three days. She assessed that the nutrition contained in these three foods is not balanced and tends to be high in sugar. ‘This is just a hypothesis, bread and then milk — I often see them with a lot of sugar. Their vitamins and minerals are limited,’ she said. Although vitamin and mineral contents could be met by dragon fruit, she said, the amount needs to be increased and cannot be satisfied by just one fruit for three days.