BGN Head Sudaryono: MBG Uses Public Funds, Must Be Converted into Nutritious Food

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Sudaryono stated that the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is funded by the state budget (APBN).

Therefore, the implementation of MBG must meet the established nutritional standards so that the funds used benefit the recipients of the program.

"MBG is the people's money sourced from the APBN. The people's money must be converted into free nutritious food that is truly targeted and provides nutritional intervention for the beneficiaries," said Sudaryono in a press statement on Friday (23/10/2026).

Sudaryono mentioned that the target recipients of MBG include not only students but also non-student groups, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B), totaling approximately 21 million individuals.

"Out of this number, more than 10 million people have received MBG," said Sudaryono.

He added that the expansion of the beneficiary scope continues alongside the activation of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), particularly in areas with high stunting prevalence and in underdeveloped, frontier, and remote regions (3T).

As such, BGN invites Integrated Service Posts (Posyandu) to help monitor the implementation of the MBG program by collaborating with SPPG kitchens.

"They can observe, check, and ensure that the cooking process is correct, the SOP is followed, and how the distribution is carried out. We want Posyandu cadres to be BGN’s eyes and ears in the field," he explained.

According to Sudaryono, public participation, including those of Posyandu cadres who are close to the beneficiaries, is crucial for maintaining the quality of MBG.

"Community involvement can help BGN obtain information about the actual conditions on the ground so that improvements can be made more responsively," he said.

With the help of Posyandu, Sudaryono hopes to strengthen equitable access to nutritious food while also supporting early prevention of nutritional issues.