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Free Nutritious Meals

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Free Nutritious Meals
Makan Bergizi Gratis
High school students in Kalimantan eat free meals, October 2025
Type of projectGovernment-sponsored free meal scheme
CountryIndonesia
Key people
Key contributorsNational Nutrition Agency
Launched6 January 2025; 17 months ago (2025-01-06)
BudgetIDR 335 trillion (US$21 billion) (January 2026)[1]
StatusActive

The Free Nutritious Meals[2] (Indonesian: Makan Bergizi Gratis or MBG), sometimes simply called as the Free Meal Program, is Indonesia's free lunch program under President Prabowo Subianto's administration which has been running gradually since 6 January 2025. The program primarily targets high school/vocational students, as well as pregnant and lactating women. Although it was designed with claims to improve people's nutrition and reduce stunting rates, the implementation of the program has drawn some criticism and rejection in various regions, especially because it caused poisoning cases.[3]

History

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Early initiatives (1991–2023)

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Prior to the national rollout in 2025, Indonesia implemented several localised and smaller-scale school feeding programs. Since 1991, the government launched pilot programs as part of a poverty alleviation strategy, providing snacks to students in underdeveloped villages.[4] This was expanded in 1996 to reach over 2 million students but was largely halted following the 1997 Asian financial crisis.[5] In 2016, the Ministry of Education and Culture introduced the Nutrition Programme for School Children (PROGAS), which provided nutritious breakfasts to students in regions with high stunting rates.[6]

2024 presidential campaign

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The current large-scale free meal program was a flagship campaign promise of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the 2024 Indonesian presidential election.[7] Originally proposed as "Makan Siang Gratis" (Free Lunch), the initiative aimed to address Indonesia’s high stunting rate, which stood at approximately 21.5% in 2022. Following their election victory, the program's scope was expanded to include pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, and the name was officially changed to Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) or Free Nutritious Meals to emphasize nutritional quality over the time of day the meal is served.[8]

Launch and implementation (2024–Present)

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To manage the program, the government established the National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional or BGN) in August 2024. Throughout the latter half of 2024, the government conducted several pilot projects in cities like Tangerang and Sukabumi to test logistics and meal costs, which were estimated at approximately IDR 15.000 per portion.[9][10]

The program officially launched nationwide on 6 January 2025. In its initial phase, it targeted approximately 15 to 20 million beneficiaries using a budget of IDR 71 trillion.[11] The implementation utilises a "central kitchen" system (Satuan Pemenuhan Pelayanan Gizi), where meals are prepared in dedicated hubs and distributed to local schools. The Indonesian government aims to scale the program to reach 82.9 million people by 2029.[12]

In March 2026, the government announced that the program would be scaled down due to "fiscal efficiency" concerns as a result of the 2026 Iran war.[13]

Food poisoning concerns

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A woman wearing a straw-hat holds a sign remarking MBG programs are poison, referencing the repeated food poisoning cases around Indonesia, 20 October 2025.

Since the launch of the free meals programme on 6 January 2025, there have been repeated instances of mass food poisoning reported nationwide. The first case occurred on 16 January in Sukoharjo, when ten students fell ill,[14] followed by similar incidents across multiple provinces. By late September, 6,452 children had been affected nationwide, and the National Nutrition Agency noted 4,711 suspected cases out of one billion portions served.[14] A subsequent report recorded 16,109 affected pupils as of 31 October.[15] The high number of affected students led the phenomenon to gain nation-wide and even international attention.

Critics

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Multiple NGOs, including Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) and Network for Education Watch (JPPI), have urged the government to temporarily suspend the IDR 171 trillion ($10 billion) program after hundreds of students contracted food poisoning from the meals.[14] During the parliamentary hearing, the head of JPPI referred to the outbreaks of food poisoning as a "systematic failure".[16]

Several protests have occurred in response to the incidents. On 27 September, hundreds of concerned mothers gathered in Sleman. The concerned mothers created sounds with kitchenware, protesting the free meal program's high number of food poisoning cases.[17] A similar effort also occurred in Monas, Jakarta. Located near the State Palace, concerned mothers protested the free meal program with posters filled with satirical comments about the program.[18]

Government's Response

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The Ministry of Health attributed these incidents to bacterial and viral contamination linked to poor kitchen sanitation.[19] Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, elaborated on the finding, citing various reasons, such as poor sanitation in the kitchen.[19]

On 5 May, President Prabowo Subianto defended the initiative.[20][21] He speculated that the food poisoning cases could be caused by students eating the lunches with their bare hands. He stated that the program received tighter standard operating procedures. On 15 October, President Subianto acknowledged the flaws of his initiative, citing a 0.0007 percent rate of food poisoning incidents.[21]

Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that the government is giving “very serious attention” to the program.[22] He added that the success of the free meal program would determine the success of the Subianto administration. In the same interview, he also stated that President Subianto has formed a coordination team comprising 13 ministries and government agencies that will hold daily monitoring meetings at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs’s office to evaluate the MBG program daily. A coordination team comprising 13 ministries was subsequently formed for daily monitoring.[22]

National Parliament

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On 15 October, Habiburokhman, the head of House Commission III, expressed that "every program is bound to have issues", comparing the MBG initiative to coordinating a daily national celebration.[23]

Regional Executives

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In West Java, Governor Dedi Mulyadi suspended the program in four affected areas after hundreds of pupils fell sick after eating the free lunches in West Bandung and Sukabumi regions.[24] Mulyadi also acknowledged that the government needs to evaluate the program and address students' trauma after eating the food.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Indonesia allocates Rp335 trillion for free meals program in 2026". Antara News. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  2. ^ "The Centre of Excellence for the Makan Bergizi Gratis programme". UNICEF Indonesia. July 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2026. As part of the Government's 'quick-win' approach, President Prabowo has prioritized nutrition through a flagship initiative called Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) or Free Nutritious Meals.
  3. ^ Yusuf, Arief Anshory. "Free nutritious meals: Let children grow and dream big - Academia". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  4. ^ Sekiyama, Makiko; Kawakami, Takayo; Nurdiani, Reisi; Roosita, Katrin; Rimbawan, Rimbawan; Murayama, Nobuko; Ishida, Hiromi; Nozue, Miho (1 July 2018). "School Feeding Programs in Indonesia". The Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. 76 (Supplement): S86–S97. doi:10.5264/eiyogakuzashi.76.S86. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  5. ^ Studdert, Lisa J.; Soekirman, null; Rasmussen, Kathleen M.; Habicht, Jean-Pierre (June 2004). "Community-based school feeding during Indonesia's economic crisis: implementation, benefits, and sustainability". Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 25 (2): 156–165. doi:10.1177/156482650402500208. ISSN 0379-5721. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  6. ^ Pambudi, Anggy Wira (22 February 2025). "Indonesia Government's Efforts to Eradicate Stunting Through the Free Nutritious Meal Program for Children: Opportunities and Challenges". Jurnal Politikom Indonesiana. 9 (2): 157–182. doi:10.35706/jpi.v9i2.2. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  7. ^ Kurniawati, Dewi. "Prabowo's free meals plan poised to expand Indonesia dairy consumption, imports". Reuters. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Indonesia launches free-meal programme to fight stunted growth". The Straits Times. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  9. ^ Dinilhaq, Alfi. "Government Trials Free Meal Program at Tangerang School". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Indonesia launches free meal programme for children, pregnant women". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  11. ^ Nurhayati, Veronica Tan and Elis. "Strengthening the free meals program through women and communities - Academia". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Govt's free meal scheme to reach 80 million recipients by April, behind target - Politics". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  13. ^ HADYAN, REZHA. "Indonesia makes U-turn on free school meals, citing fiscal 'efficiencies'". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b c Teresia, Ananda; Christina, Bernadette. "Indonesia urged to halt $10 billion free school meals plan after mass food poisoning". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Mardianti, Dede Leni (4 November 2025). "JPPI: Kasus Keracunan MBG Tembus 16.109 Orang Per 31 Oktober 2025" (in Indonesian). Tempo. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  16. ^ Ananda, Teresia; Budiman, Yuddy Cahya (25 September 2025). "Over 1,000 Indonesians sick from school meals in more food poisoning outbreaks". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ S, Jauh Hari Wawan. "Inspiratif! Ibu-ibu Ini Demo Protes Keracunan MBG Sambil Pukuli Panci". detikjatim (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  18. ^ Febrian, Lidia; Huda, Larissa (1 October 2025). "Ibu-ibu Gelar Aksi di Monas, Protes Program Makan Bergizi Gratis". Kompas.com. Retrieved 17 November 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b Ni'am, Syakirun (1 October 2025). "Ini 8 Bakteri dan 2 Virus Penyebab Keracunan MBG yang Diungkap Menkes" [These are 8 bacteria and 2 viruses behind MBG food poisoning according to Ministry of Health.]. Kompas. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  20. ^ Nata Widjaja, Yovie Given; Prastiwi, Mahar (6 May 2025). "Kasus Keracunan MBG, Prabowo: Siswa Tak Gunakan Sendok Saat Makan". Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  21. ^ a b Mawangi, Genta Tenri (16 October 2025). "Prabowo perketat SOP MBG untuk cegah insiden keracunan". Antara (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  22. ^ a b Bardjan (4 November 2025). "Minister: Prabowo Government's Success Hinges on Free Meal Program". Tempo. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  23. ^ Ahmad, Bagus; Riswan, Kuntum Khaira (15 October 2025). Nasution, Rahmad (ed.). "DPR member says issues with free nutritious meals program reasonable". Antara. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  24. ^ a b Marsiela, Adi; Karmini, Niniek (25 September 2025). "Indonesia faces calls to halt free meals program as over 5,000 school children fall ill". AP News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
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