Series of Criticisms Over Ramadan Free Nutritious Meal Programme

The implementation of the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) received various criticisms during Ramadan. This year, the National Nutrition Agency, which administers the programme, determined that Ramadan MBG menus should consist of dry foods that can be consumed at iftar time.

Criticisms came from multiple quarters, including parents and regional heads who highlighted distribution shortcomings during this Ramadan period.

In several locations, the Ramadan MBG menu was protested for allegedly consisting only of cheap snacks. Elsewhere, the flagship programme of President Prabowo Subianto faced criticism for not listing expiry dates.

Sultan HB X Demands Improvements and Price Labelling for MBG

Yogyakarta Special Region Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X requested that the National Nutrition Agency and the nutrition fulfilment service unit label prices on MBG menu packages.

This followed widespread criticism of dry menu MBG distributed during Ramadan, particularly the quality of dry food menus deemed disproportionate to the budget allocation of Rp 10,000 per portion.

“There are protests suggesting the materials (MBG menu) are not quite right. I have already asked the Regional Secretary to immediately call the MBG programme officials,” said Sultan in Yogyakarta on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

During this Ramadan, various social media posts highlighted menu variations across several Yogyakarta regions, as distributed packages contained only items also accused of minimal nutritional value, such as fried foods, dry bread, and peanuts.

Sultan HB X instructed the programme officials to improve food composition. He also requested that public concerns regarding unclear information about price per portion be addressed with genuine transparency regarding the value of distributed items.

Solo Mayor Requests National Nutrition Agency Evaluation of Ramadan MBG Menu

Solo Mayor Respati Ardi requested that the National Nutrition Agency evaluate the MBG programme menu distributed during Ramadan. The request followed numerous resident complaints regarding menus deemed unsuitable for the nutritional needs of beneficiaries.

Respati stated that several reports indicated menus considered inappropriate but still distributed to school students. Solo City Government has sent official correspondence to the National Nutrition Agency to provide input and request improvements.

“We have received many resident complaints. There are menus that are deemed unsuitable for schoolchildren. Therefore we have written to request an evaluation,” said Respati to journalists in Solo on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Several complaints regarding Ramadan MBG menus were also noted on the official Solo City Government complaint platform, the Surakarta Complaint Service Unit (ULAS). Several parents complained about MBG menus deemed inadequate.

One came from Lusiana, a resident of Mojo, Pasar Kliwon, who complained about the MBG menu her child received at school, which consisted of green star fruit, bread, and corn flour.

“I am writing to you, sir, to question whether MBG during this fasting month with a budget of 15,000 yielding only star fruit is appropriate, sir? On Monday my child received boiled eggs that were still undercooked and I ended up throwing them away because I was worried they would cause stomach problems if eaten,” she wrote in a complaint to ULAS on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Ramadan MBG in Lumajang Flooded with Complaints

Implementation of MBG during Ramadan in Lumajang Regency, East Java received various complaints. Complaints regarding Ramadan MBG implementation in Lumajang were conveyed through the WhatsApp group ‘SADARKUM LUMAJANG’, comprising cross-sector leaders from Lumajang Regency.

This group has approximately 700 members, ranging from labour activists, anti-corruption advocates, farmer activists, traders, and members of the Regional People’s Representative Council.

During fasting, the National Nutrition Agency allows continued distribution of MBG menus to beneficiaries, including students, pregnant women, and toddlers. The Agency also recommends that MBG menus served be dry foods that do not spoil quickly.

A WhatsApp group admin ‘SADARKUM LUMAJANG’, Madiono, allowed journalists to cite various complaints about the Ramadan MBG menu. This migrant worker activist from Lumajang said the complaints originated from a picture message of a Ramadan MBG menu received by students at a school in Lumajang. The menu consisted of one boiled egg, one crystal guava fruit, and one small packet of peanuts and bread. The message immediately drew various comments.

“How is my child’s MBG like this. Is guava supposed to be for rujak, is bread from the cheap shops, are the peanuts like those sold on buses? Who do I complain to,” said one group member in Javanese.

Ahmad Nur Huda, a group member, also recommended that the public begin taking pictures of Ramadan MBG menus and sharing them on social media. “So the President knows his subordinates are not doing their job properly. Whoever it is,” he said.

Indonesian Education Monitoring Network Criticises Free Nutritious Meal Menu During Ramadan

The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) criticised the plan to distribute dry food packages in the MBG programme during Ramadan. National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji believed the National Nutrition Agency’s decision did not align with nutritional fulfilment principles, and the policy could potentially cause health problems for students.

Ubaid stated that the National Nutrition Agency need not centrally distribute MBG menus, such as shredded meat or salted eggs. According to him, school canteens far better understand student preferences and nutritional needs.

“Salted eggs and shredded meat dishes have very high sodium and preservatives. This actually contradicts the nutritional fulfilment objective,” said Ubaid when contacted on Monday, 2 February 2026.

He believed that mass distribution of dry food during Ramadan was not an ideal solution, especially if consumed continuously over a long period. Ubaid noted that this approach reflected a problematic policy approach.