Solo Mayor Asks National Nutrition Agency to Evaluate Free Nutritious Meal Programme Menu during Ramadan
The Mayor of Solo, Respati Ardi, has asked the National Nutrition Agency to evaluate the menu of the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) distributed during Ramadan. The request was made following numerous complaints from residents regarding the menu, which they deemed unsuitable for the nutritional needs of the recipients.
Respati stated that several reports indicated that inappropriate menus were still being distributed to students in schools. The Solo City Government has sent an official letter to the National Nutrition Agency to provide feedback and request improvements.
“We have received many complaints from residents. There are menus that are considered inappropriate for children in schools. Therefore, we have sent a letter requesting an evaluation,” said Respati to reporters in Solo on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Respati said that the local government will continue to coordinate with the National Nutrition Agency to ensure that the issue is addressed promptly. He hopes that the distribution of the MBG during Ramadan will continue to prioritise nutritional quality and menu suitability for students.
In addition, he also encouraged each nutrition service unit (SPPG) to immediately make improvements if any errors are found in the menu distribution. The Solo City Government hopes that the evaluation will be carried out soon so that the MBG programme can continue to run optimally and provide maximum benefits to students during Ramadan.
The Head of the Solo Education Office, Dwi Ariyatno, said that he had prepared a complaint mechanism for schools if they encountered obstacles in the implementation of the MBG programme. Schools are asked to first submit complaints to the SPPG in their respective areas.
“If there is no follow-up, the report can be forwarded to the Education Office or the MBG Task Force,” said Dwi.
Several complaints regarding the MBG menu during Ramadan were also monitored on the Solo City Government’s official complaint platform, the Surakarta Complaint Service Unit (ULAS). Several parents complained about the MBG menu, which they considered inadequate.
One of them came from Lusiana, a resident of Mojo, Pasar Kliwon, who complained about the MBG menu that her child received at school, which consisted of green star fruit, bread, and corn.
“I would like to ask, is the MBG during Ramadan, with a budget of 15,000, only enough for star fruit? On Monday, my child received boiled eggs, but they were still raw, and I threw them away because I was afraid that eating them would cause stomach problems,” she said, quoted from Lusiana’s post on ULAS, Thursday, February 26, 2026.
“I hope that the Mayor will take action against the SPPG that provides menus at will. I apologise once again. Is it because it is free that school children are given substandard food? Thank you,” wrote Lusiana.
Another resident named Wieyarni, complained about the same menu, namely green star fruit, bread, and corn.
“I would like to ask about the MBG menu for my child’s school today, the menu is only green star fruit, cheap bread, and corn. Thank you. What is your response to this, please take action,” she wrote on ULAS.