Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, October 19, 2026 at 06:03 AM UTC

Indonesia's Free Meal Program reaches 57 million

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Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program had reached more than 57 million people by September 30, as President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka approached their second anniversary in office.

Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Deputy for Partnerships and Media Relations Kurnia Ramadhana said on Sunday that beneficiaries included students, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers, served through 27,486 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) across 38 provinces.

The government is expanding the program's reach while tightening food safety standards, he said.

“The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily suspended operations at 1,276 kitchens without hygiene and sanitation certificates as part of efforts to strengthen food safety standards,” he said.

As of September 30, MBG spending from the state budget totaled Rp153.2 trillion (US$8.49 billion), or 66.9 percent of the Rp229 trillion (US$12.69 billion) allocation.

The government aims to reach 72,464,886 beneficiaries in 2027, including students, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers, Ramadhana said.

Last week, BGN inaugurated nine Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units in Natuna, Riau Islands, a frontier, disadvantaged and outermost area, bringing the district's total to 14. The new units have yet to begin operating.

Buffet-Style Meals

Launched on January 6, 2025, MBG is being piloted at selected locations where students receive meals buffet-style.

BGN head Sudaryono said the buffet-style service is being tested in several regions, including Java, Aceh, Palembang and frontier, disadvantaged and outermost areas.

BGN aims to have as many as 5,000 SPPGs adopt buffet-style meal service by the end of 2026.

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