Free meals programme reaches 57 million recipients in Indonesia

BOGOR — Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals programme, known as MBG, has reached more than 57 million recipients in 38 provinces, according to a report published by Republika on 21 October 2026. The figure covers two years of the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

According to Republika, the programme is supported by 27,486 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units, known as SPPG. Recipients include schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under five.

Republika reported that realised spending reached Rp153.2 trillion, or 66.9 percent of the total effective budget ceiling, as of the third quarter of 2026. The report did not give a breakdown of that spending.

The newspaper's report said the next stage is to ensure that expansion goes hand in hand with food safety, nutritional quality, staff competence, fair distribution and transparent budget management. It also said success should not be measured only by the number of meals distributed or recipients. Menu quality, nutrient content, distribution accuracy and food safety should also be measured, according to the report.

Republika's report included images from a visit to SDN 3 Cileungsi, a primary school in Bogor Regency, West Java, on 20 October 2026, where students ate meals provided under the programme.

The source material does not include comments from government officials or independent assessments of the programme's results.

Background

MBG is one of the priority agendas of President Prabowo. The programme's stated aim is to widen access to nutritious food and to treat nutrition as part of children's growth and development, according to the report.