Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Deputy Head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Public Communication and Investigation, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, has instructed all heads of nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG/kitchens) to sign a written agreement with schools that receive the free nutritious meal program (MBG). The agreement establishes time limits for food consumption and prohibits taking food home.

Nanik delivered the directive while guiding the Heads of SPPG in the Banyuwangi Regency during a Coordination and Evaluation agenda with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), foundations, partners, and school authorities in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Nanik explained that the regulation is necessary because food safety incidents have occurred in various areas due to food being consumed after it has expired. "The food must be consumed at its best time and must not be taken home. If it arrives at seven o'clock, it must be consumed by a specific time as indicated on the label," Nanik said in an official statement on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

The proposal to create a written agreement was initially presented by the Assistant II Secretary of the Banyuwangi Regency, Suratno, who believed in the need for shared responsibility between SPPG or the MBG kitchen and the schools to ensure that MBG dishes are consumed on time. The Deputy Head of BGN then affirmed the proposal as a policy to be implemented.

According to Nanik, the agreement between the SPPG heads and school principals is important for clarifying the division of responsibilities. SPPG is responsible for distributing food on time. The school oversees the distribution process, as well as the time and place of MBG consumption by students.

Although there is a written agreement, Nanik emphasized that supervision still needs to be conducted at multiple levels. Schools are required to regularly announce the time and place of MBG consumption, both orally and in writing. In addition, each food container should have a label indicating the optimal consumption time.

"The label is crucial, and the cost is low. This is a simple step, but it has a significant impact on preventing food safety risks," said Nanik, who also serves as the Executive Coordinator of the MBG Program Implementation Coordination Team.

This policy is one of BGN's efforts to tighten its supervision of the distribution and consumption of MBG. The goal is to ensure that the nutritional fulfillment program for children runs smoothly and does not cause health issues in the future.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2082996/bgn-prohibits-students-from-taking-home-free-nutritious-meal