Menu Becomes the Spotlight, BGN Emphasizes MBG is Designed to Meet One-Third of Daily Nutrition

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) explained that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program is only designed to meet one-third of daily nutritional needs and not for a full day.

Deputy Head of BGN for Public Communication and Investigation Nanik Sudaryati Deyang said this was in response to one of the narratives circulating that the MBG menu was far from the nutritional intake needed.

"It needs to be understood that MBG is not designed to meet all daily nutritional needs. This program is designed to meet about a third of the daily nutritional needs of beneficiaries," he said in Jakarta, Monday.

Nanik added that the standard composition of the MBG menu has been compiled by considering the energy, protein, carbohydrate, and micronutrient needs that are relevant for the beneficiary groups. More than that, he said, the big goal of this program is to build healthy and nutritious eating habits for the future generation of the nation.

In addition, BGN also emphasized that the MBG Program was carried out with clear and structured technical guidance. This also answered questions that arose on social media regarding the existence or absence of technical procedures in the implementation of the program.

"All technical instructions or juknis for the implementation of MBG are available and accessible to the public. These documents are currently uploaded on the official BGN website so that they can be studied by the public and implementing partners," said Nanik.

The manual, he continued, covers various operational aspects ranging from the standards of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), food processing, food safety, to the nutritional composition in each menu served.

With this openness, BGN hopes that public discussions regarding the MBG Program can be carried out constructively based on data and official documents.