Indonesia pushes kitchens to expand free meals program coverage

hartono · May 12, 2026

Indonesia pushes kitchens to expand free meals program coverage

File photo - Members of the Family Assistance Team (TPK) distribute meals under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to a mother and child in Solo, Central Java, on May 5, 2026. (ANTARA FOTO/Mohammad Ayudha/hma)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has urged all meal kitchens under the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to increase the number of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers covered within the next two weeks.

BGN Deputy Head for Public Communication and Investigation Nanik Sudaryati Deyang said in Jakarta on Monday that the measure is part of efforts to improve children’s nutrition and reduce stunting nationwide.

She said the program currently reaches around 9 million beneficiaries in the three categories, while Health Ministry data shows the total population in those groups ranges from 22 million to 26 million.

Deyang said the situation has prompted BGN to refocus the program so nutrition services can be directed more effectively toward priority groups requiring immediate intervention.

Therefore, all kitchens, officially called Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), have been instructed to actively collect data and optimize services to increase the number of beneficiaries in the three categories within a short period.

The effort is considered important to accelerate equitable nutrition services nationwide.

Deyang emphasized that SPPGs failing to meet beneficiary targets for the three groups would face temporary suspension.

"If the number of beneficiaries in the three categories remains low, the SPPG will be suspended," she said.

The policy aims to ensure all program operators remain focused on improving public nutrition and reducing stunting prevalence in Indonesia.

The MBG program, launched in early 2025, targets 82.9 million beneficiaries nationwide, including toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and students up to senior high school.

According to BGN data, the number of active SPPGs nationwide reached 27,874 as of May 11.