Reasons SPPG in Pamekasan Distributes MBG Menu of Whole Young Coconuts and Raw Eggs: Trial for Ramadan

The Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) of Bumdes Sejahtera in Rek Kerrek Village, Palengaan District, Pamekasan Regency, East Java, which distributes free nutritious meals to thousands of students, has violated the rules set by the National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional or BGN).

The regional coordinator of BGN in Pamekasan, Hariyanto Rahmansyah Tri Arif, explained that the guidelines for distributing the MBG (Makan Bergizi Gratis) menu require food to be ready to eat, not provided in raw form to students. “If young coconuts are given whole and unpeeled, they are not ready to eat, which violates the rules,” he said.

According to him, the MBG menu provided to students must comply with BGN guidelines and meet nutritional adequacy standards.

Meanwhile, the head of SPPG at Bumdes Sejahtera in Rek Kerrek Village dismissed the claims, stating that the MBG menu consisting of whole coconuts, raw eggs, bread, and milk was merely a trial. “It is just an experimental menu due to the approach of Ramadan,” said Hairul Hafid.

He further argued that the raw menu given to students had been consulted with relevant experts before being distributed to 3,000 students in the Palengaan District area. “We dared to distribute it because we received permission from nutrition experts,” he added.

However, the distribution of the MBG menu did not follow BGN rules and guidelines, instead adapting to on-the-ground needs.

Meanwhile, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, since the programme’s launch, has emphasised to all MBG kitchens the importance of prioritising animal protein to prevent stunting, ensuring hygiene, balanced nutrition, and ready-to-eat meals.

Yet, at the SPPG kitchen of Bumdes Sejahtera in Rek Kerrek Village, Pamekasan, they distributed food that was not ready to eat, but rather raw items, including one whole unpeeled young coconut, raw chicken eggs, bread, and milk.

The distribution of the MBG menu, consisting of young coconuts, raw eggs, bread, and milk, occurred on Thursday, 12 February 2026, and lasted for two days.