Indonesia's MBG program grapples with operational setbacks and reform push

The government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme is being promoted as a vehicle to raise milk consumption and improve child nutrition as part of Indonesia’s “Golden 2045” vision. Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Hanif Faisol Nurofiq noted that national per‑capita milk intake remains low at about 16 liters a year and urged daily milk provision through MBG.

Implementation has encountered several hurdles. In Sleman Regency, 35 of the 129 SPPG kitchens have halted operations because they failed to meet mandatory wastewater‑treatment (IPAL) standards, and many lack hygiene‑sanitation certification. Similar concerns were raised in Central Java, where dozens of kitchens are not sourcing food from local farmers, prompting calls for temporary suspension of non‑compliant sites.

The programme also faces public scrutiny after corruption allegations involving the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). BGN head Nanik S. Deyang defended the programme, denying rumours of profit‑sharing with President Prabowo and emphasizing the breadth of the network. In response, the agency announced a moratorium on new kitchen construction, audits of more than 27 000 existing sites, and a refocusing of beneficiaries toward pregnant women, nursing mothers and toddlers.

Overall, authorities aim to resolve technical, administrative and governance issues so that MBG can reliably deliver daily milk and improve nutrition outcomes for Indonesian children.