Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency Refocuses Free Meals Program Amid Corruption Probe

The Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN) announced a major review of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) free‑meal scheme. The agency will shift the programme away from elite schools toward the country's most disadvantaged "3T" (tertinggal, terdepan, terluar) regions and vulnerable groups such as pregnant and nursing mothers and children under five, aiming to improve nutrition outcomes and align with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for targeted aid.

Separately, the Attorney General’s Office has raided six locations linked to the MBG programme, seizing documents, mobile phones and laptops. Former BGN chief Dadan Hindayana, former deputy chief Sonny Sanjaya and senior official Lodewyk Pusung have been named as suspects in an alleged corruption case covering the 2025‑2026 MBG management period. Investigators say the evidence supports charges of misuse of funds and irregularities in programme administration.