October 12, 2025 | 03:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - FIAN Indonesia, an Indonesia civil society organization advocating for the right to food and nutrition, has criticized the draft Presidential Regulation on the government’s free nutritious meal program (MBG).
The group argued that the regulation fails to address fundamental problems in the government’s flagship initiative.
FIAN Indonesia’s National Coordinator, Marthin Hadiwinata, said the regulation was discussed without public participation and lacks a human rights-based approach to food and nutrition.
“Without transparency, this Presidential Regulation will only whitewash the chaos of the MBG project,” Marthin said in a written statement on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
According to Marthin, the MBG program has been flawed from the outset, particularly in determining its target beneficiaries. He said the criteria appeared arbitrary and lacked a clear baseline, resulting in food safety issues that have led to mass poisoning incidents.
The MBG program, one of the top priorities of the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration, has faced widespread criticism after thousands of people reportedly suffered food poisoning from distributed meals.
Initially, the program aimed to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries, focusing on vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
Marthin emphasized that the government should base the implementation of the MBG program on the human right to food and nutrition, in line with the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR).
He cited the CESCR Committee’s recommendation that food programs must involve meaningful consultations with civil society, indigenous groups, farmers, and women, while also supporting local agriculture and small-scale food production systems.
FIAN Indonesia, therefore, insists that transparency and public participation in drafting the Presidential Regulation are essential. Without involving the intended beneficiaries, Marthin said, the program risks missing its core purpose.
“This regulation will merely legitimize the MBG project as a mechanism for distributing state budget allocations,” he said.
He further warned that a non-transparent regulation would reinforce centralization in the MBG’s implementation. “Access to nutritious and healthy food should be provided in a decentralized manner, involving schools, families, and surrounding communities,” Marthin added.
To date, there is still no clear legal framework governing coordination among ministries, local governments, the private sector, and civil society in implementing the MBG program.
On Wednesday, October 9, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said the draft regulation was nearly complete and had been submitted to the Ministry of State Secretariat.
Meanwhile, on Friday, October 10, Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto had not yet ratified the regulation, as its contents were still being finalized. “There are still some inputs, particularly from the Ministry of Health,” Prasetyo said in Menteng, South Jakarta.
The Gerindra Party politician added that the government is working to define the roles of the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in overseeing the program, especially after recent food poisoning cases.
“We want both the Ministry of Health and BPOM to be involved in supervision. So, the release of the Presidential Regulation will take a little more time, please be patient,” Prasetyo said.
Dian Rahma Fika contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesia to Deploy 5,000 Professional Chefs to Train MBG Cooks
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia to Deploy 5,000 Professional Chefs to Train MBG Cooks
2 hari lalu
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) considers collaboration with professional chefs crucial following a number of food poisoning incidents after consuming MBG.
BPOM: Cesium-137 Contamination Affects Indonesian Food Exports
2 hari lalu
BPOM stated that the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) import alert has the potential to affect Indonesian spice products.
Again, Dozens of Students Suffer Poisoning After Consuming Free Nutritious Meal
3 hari lalu
A total of 13 students experienced poisoning symptoms out of 351 students who received the free nutritious meal (MBG) in Indonesia.
Indonesian Education Minister Opens Path for School-Managed Free Meal Program
4 hari lalu
Mu'ti said that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) will determine the readiness of schools to independently manage free nutritious meals (MBG).
29 CSOs Condemn Proposed Delay of EUDR Implementation
4 hari lalu
A total of 29 civil society organizations are demanding that the European Union reject any proposed postponement of the EUDR.
Analyst: Direct Cash Could Boost Indonesia's MBG Benefits to Rp50,000 per Child
4 hari lalu
Indonesia's Celios recommends giving Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) funds directly as cash, potentially providing up to Rp50,000 per child per meal.
Some Free Meal Kitchens in Jakarta Still Lack Hygiene and Sanitation Certificates
5 hari lalu
As many as 180 kitchens that provide free nutritious meal services in the Jakarta area have not yet obtained hygiene and sanitation certification.
BGN Urged to Pinpoint Cause of Nitrite Contamination in Free Meal Poisoning
6 hari lalu
The health expert said Indonesia's BGN must pinpoint the initial contamination points to prevent speculation and future incidents.
Indonesia's Free Meal Program Poisoning Victims Reaches 1,833 a Week; Highest in East Java
6 hari lalu
The increase in the number of Indonesia's free meal program (MBG) poisonings this week is higher than the weekly average of victims during September.
Indonesia's Free Meal Poisoning Exceeds 10,000 Cases, Reports JPPI
6 hari lalu
As of Saturday, October 4, 2025, JPPI recorded a total of 10,482 poisoning cases from the government's free meal program.
