Zulhas: Free Nutritious Meals Programme Must Improve Quality and Targeting

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has affirmed the government’s commitment to carrying out comprehensive improvements to the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The move is intended to ensure the programme is not only broad in reach but also maintains high food safety standards and is accurately targeted.

Zulhas stated that the government’s main focus at present is maintaining the quality of implementation on the ground. According to him, growth in the number of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) must be accompanied by strict compliance with regulations.

“The MBG programme continues to be improved. We are not merely chasing the number of SPPGs or beneficiaries; the most important thing is that the quality of implementation must be maintained. Standards must be met and rules must be obeyed. If requirements are not fulfilled, we will take firm action,” said Zulhas in his statement on Thursday (27/8/2026).

He made the remarks during a Limited Coordination Meeting on the Implementation of the MBG Programme led by the Coordinating Minister for Food on Wednesday (26/8).

The government has permanently closed 455 SPPGs that failed to meet the requirements of the Hygiene Sanitation Eligibility Certificate (SLHS). In total, 833 SPPGs have been closed after being deemed unfit for operation. Of these, 455 SPPGs will be closed for failing to meet SLHS requirements.

Of the 27,485 SPPGs that have been operating, the government is evaluating compliance with SLHS requirements and adherence to the technical guidelines for MBG implementation. A total of 27,022 SPPGs have been designated by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) based on profiling data. Meanwhile, 463 SPPGs have yet to submit their profiling and are at risk of suspension.

Of the total 27,485 SPPGs, there are 3,515 SPPGs across 324 regencies and cities throughout Indonesia that do not yet have an SLHS. This figure comprises 3,060 SPPGs that have not applied and 455 SPPGs that failed to meet the requirements.

Beyond facilities, Zulhas also highlighted the discipline of human resources. A total of 249 SPPG heads have been dismissed for various serious violations, including negligence causing food poisoning, phishing cases, and disciplinary issues.

The government has also emphasised the discipline of SPPG heads in carrying out operations. SPPG heads are required to be present from the time the SPPG begins operating at around 2 a.m. until the food distribution process is completed at around 8 to 9 a.m.

To ensure the MBG programme is increasingly well targeted, the government has changed the mechanism for determining targets. Whereas previously targets were determined by each SPPG, full control now rests with the National Nutrition Agency.

The main targets are now focused on the 3B group (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers), which numbers 21.9 million people, as well as communities in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. A total of 111 SPPGs in 3T areas, including Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara, are a priority for activation in the initial phase, especially in areas with high stunting prevalence.

Through stricter standards and stronger central control, the government is optimistic that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme will become a strong foundation for improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources in the future in an accountable and sustainable manner.

“The direction is clear: MBG must be of increasingly higher quality and better targeted. We evaluate what is lacking, improve its governance, and prioritise those most in need. A programme of this scale must continue to be refined based on evaluations in the field,” Zulhas stressed.