TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has refuted claims circulating on the social media platform X that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in South Tangerang is distributing raw ingredients for recipients to cook themselves. The rumors suggested that ready-made meals were being replaced by a five-day supply of raw ingredients.
"Currently, there is no official policy regulating the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal or MBG in the form of raw materials during the school holiday period," said BGN Head Dadan Hindayana in an official statement on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
He clarified that the BGN is currently developing technical guidelines for MBG implementation during school holidays. This process considers student attendance patterns and aims to ensure effective and sustainable nutritional intake.
The BGN has instructed the heads of the MBG kitchens or the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in various regions to conduct direct surveys of students. This survey will determine how frequently students attend school during the holiday period. "If students can still come to school, MBG will be provided as fresh food, and students can also be given longer-lasting food such as eggs, fruit, and milk for the next one or two days," Dadan explained.
If students are unable to attend school, the BGN will adjust distribution by focusing assistance on vulnerable groups like pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers. Dadan believes this adjustment is crucial to ensure optimal nutritional benefits.
"We ensure that every decision made is based on the principle of equitable nutrition distribution, effectiveness of distribution, and sustainability of benefits. There is no unilateral decision regarding the distribution format of MBG without a policy basis from BGN," he asserted.
He emphasized that the BGN formulates every policy step with a focus on caution, accountability, and benefit effectiveness. The agency also pledged to continue transparently communicating policy developments to the public.
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