Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Economist Alliance (AEI) has called on the government to temporarily pause the free nutritious meal program (MBG) following recent mass poisoning incidents.
Despite these concerns, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto reaffirmed that the program will continue as planned.
"Yes, the President has had discussions, and the Coordinating Minister for Food has explained to the media, so the program will continue," Airlangga said during an encounter at his office in Central Jakarta on Monday night, September 29, 2025.
Earlier that day, Airlangga met with 10 representatives from the AEI to discuss the MBG program. The economists presented a series of recommendations, highlighting potential misallocation of funds and the urgent need to review the program's budget, especially in light of the recent poisoning cases.
"In essence, we emphasize that the program should be paused due to massive misallocation," said AEI representative Lili Yan Ing during the meeting.
Teuku Riefky, a researcher at the Institute for Economic and Social Research FEB UI, also criticized the program, calling the incidents "counterproductive to its initial goal of promoting health." He added that the costs of recovery from food poisoning may fall on the families themselves, placing an additional burden on already vulnerable households.
According to the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (Cisdi), as of September 19, 2025, more than 5,000 students have reportedly suffered from food poisoning after consuming MBG meals.
The AEI's recommendations urge the government to halt the program temporarily and reassess both safety measures and budget allocations to prevent further harm, ensuring that the initiative truly benefits its intended recipients.