Zulhas: Protests Over MBG Shouldn't Be Uploaded to Social Media; Report Directly to SPPG
Coordinating Minister for Food Security Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has lamented protests about the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme that were uploaded to social media. He said that if any aspect of the MBG menu is not in line with standards, schools can report directly to the relevant Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG).
“Yesterday I saw in one school the protest was on YouTube. In fact, the headteacher, if the SPPG isn’t in order, there are people delivering meals every day. They can simply lodge a complaint, ‘Sir, why is this food not in accordance with the nutritional standards?’” Zulhas said while chairing a coordination meeting (rakor) on the MBG at Gradhika Bakti Praja, the Governor’s Office Complex of Central Java, Semarang, on Tuesday (3/3/2026).
Zulhas added that if schools are not satisfied, they are allowed to return the MBG to the related SPPG. “But this ended up on YouTube. What does that mean?” he asked.
He disclosed that the Coordinating Ministry for Food has prepared an MBG comment centre. “If there are any problems, there is also an MBG call centre. You can ask anything at the comment or call centre we have established,” Zulhas said.
The MBG coordination meeting at the Central Java Governor’s Office was attended by Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana, Deputy Head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti, and the Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi. Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi and regional heads from 35 regencies/cities in Central Java participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, complained about many “attacks” on the MBG menu during Ramadan. However, she claimed that much of the circulating information about the MBG menu is hoaxes.
“Mr Zul (Coordinating Minister for Food Security Zulkifli Hasan), we report that recently, since the fasting month, we have been hammered, particularly about the menu. Not all of the information circulating is true; most of it is hoaxes,” Nanik said.