BGN: Free Nutritious Meal Program May Continue During School Holidays

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the National Nutrition Body (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program could still be implemented during school holidays. However, its continuation depends on whether students and teachers are willing to support the distribution of meals outside regular school hours.

"If students are willing to attend, then MBG will be implemented for the students," Dadan said on Thursday, June 19, 2025. He explained that each head of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) is responsible for gathering data on how many students are willing to come to school to receive MBG.

If the majority of students agree, meal distribution at the school will proceed. If not, the program will shift its focus to other target groups, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. "It will continue because the distribution is based on their respective homes," Dadan added.

Dadan also noted that the BGN is currently drafting technical guidelines for MBG distribution during the holiday period. As a lecturer at the Bogor Agricultural Institute, he stressed that these guidelines would take into account student attendance patterns and the need for sustained nutritional intake.

He emphasized that MBG implementation may differ between schools depending on their specific situations. "If students can still come to school, then MBG will be provided in the form of fresh food, and students can also be provided with longer-lasting food such as eggs, fruit, and milk for 1 or 2 days ahead," he said.

Dadan also addressed recent reports about MBG packages containing rice distributed to 4,705 students at 18 schools in South Tangerang. He clarified that the government has not made any official decision to provide MBG in raw form for students who are not attending school.

"There is no unilateral decision regarding the format of MBG distribution without policy basis from the BGN," he said, underscoring that all policy decisions are made with careful consideration, transparency, and a focus on ensuring the program’s effectiveness.

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