Harian Express, Jakarta – Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced a temporary halt to the free nutritious meal program during school holidays, effective June 22 to July 13, 2026, for comprehensive audits on kitchen feasibility and budget efficiency. (18/06/2026)
Deputy Head of BGN, Agustina Arumsari, delivered this statement at the BGN Headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday, June 18, 2026, outlining the policy’s implementation during the specified holiday period. The agency aims to utilize this pause to address operational shortcomings effectively.
This suspension follows increasing controversy and pressure surrounding President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program, spurred by beneficiary dissatisfaction over meal quality. Many are willing to forgo the assistance if it leads to improved quality or allows the budget to be redirected.
Nesti Nagari (29) from Kediri, East Java, for instance, discovered a portion of clumped white paste in her eight-month-old baby’s meal on Wednesday. She promptly shared her disbelief on social media Threads, stating, “What mother would want to feed her child food like this?”
Nesti subsequently fed the meal to her chickens, and her post garnered over 11,000 likes by Thursday. She advocated for a temporary program suspension or termination, suggesting the budget be used for urgent priorities like education and healthcare.
On June 18, 2026, protests in Jakarta highlighted similar concerns, with women displaying posters, one of which read: “Life is already hard, taxes are used as they please.” Demonstrators demanded a government review of the free meal program, alongside calls for lower fuel prices and more job opportunities for women.
In related developments, the program’s budget has been reduced to Rp228.4 trillion for Fiscal Year 2026, with further targets to bring it below Rp200 trillion. These reductions, which could include cuts to high-decile economic area schools or non-student beneficiaries, are intended to bolster fiscal posture.
The free meal program faces roadblocks amid wider concerns, including allegations of food poisoning and corruption, further emphasizing the urgency of the announced audits.
