From 2 Liter of Milk, Grasshoppers to Jumbo Budget: 7 Controversies of Dadan Hindayana at BGN

Former Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana wearing a prosecutor's vest while in the Attorney General's vehicle, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana was officially detained by the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) after undergoing an intensive examination at the Attorney General's Office for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Jakarta, Wednesday, June 3.

The detention once again drew public attention to various polemics that had colored Dadan's leadership at the National Nutrition Agency, especially in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program which was one of the priority programs of the government of President Prabowo Subianto.

During his tenure, Dadan has been in the spotlight several times due to controversial statements, policies that have sparked debate, and various problems in the implementation of the MBG program.

1. Milk Statement 2 Liter per Day

One of the most discussed controversies emerged in May 2025 when Dadan told his personal experience of consuming two liters of milk every day while attending activities at the Syaichona Muhammad Cholil Islamic Boarding School, Bangkalan, East Java.

On that occasion, he associated this habit with the height of his two children, which reached more than 180 centimeters. This statement triggered criticism because it was considered to be less relevant to the economic conditions of most Indonesian people.

Later, Dadan explained that the statement was a personal experience and not part of the official government policy.

2. Proposal for Insects as a Source of Protein

Another controversy arose when Dadan proposed the use of grasshoppers and sagu caterpillars as an alternative source of protein in the MBG program.

According to him, these food ingredients can be used in areas that have a tradition of consuming insects as a local food source.

Although intended as a local wisdom-based approach, the proposal sparked a wide debate on the national menu standards in the nutrition fulfillment program.

3. MBG Food Poisoning Case

The implementation of the MBG program was also marked by various cases of food poisoning that became a national spotlight.

A number of incidents occurred in various regions and raised questions about the effectiveness of food safety supervision and the quality of food distributed to beneficiaries.

The largest case occurred in September 2025 when hundreds of students in West Java were reported to have been poisoned after consuming food from the MBG program.

A series of similar cases were then reported in a number of other areas and became one of the main criticisms of the implementation of the program.

4. Procurement of Electric Motor and Operational Expenses

BGN also came under the spotlight regarding the plan to procure more than 20,000 units of electric motorcycles to support the operation of the MBG program.

The procurement value, which reached trillions of rupiah, triggered criticism because it was considered too large in the midst of various other basic needs that still had to be met by the government.

Apart from electric motorcycles, a number of operational equipment procurements such as eating utensils, training equipment, and technological devices have also been the subject of public debate.

Dadan denied various allegations of wastefulness and emphasized that all procurement processes were carried out according to the applicable mechanism.

5. MBG During Ramadan

The MBG program is again being discussed when it is still carried out during Ramadan 2025 with a scheme of bringing home food to be consumed during the fasting break.

However, a number of menus circulating on social media, such as bread, dates, boiled eggs, and instant cereals, have sparked criticism because they are considered not to reflect the ideal nutritional standards for students.

6. MBG Expansion Plan to Saudi Arabia

Dadan also came under the spotlight after revealing plans to expand the MBG program to the Indonesian School in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The discourse has been criticized because the cost of providing food in Saudi Arabia is much higher than in Indonesia, while the implementation of MBG in the country still faces various technical and supervisory challenges.

7. Jumbo Budget and Target Accuracy

Apart from technical polemics, the MBG program has also been the target of criticism because of the large state budget needs which reach hundreds of trillion rupiah per year.

A number of studies highlight the effectiveness of the program and the distribution of benefits that are considered not fully targeted. Criticism also arises because most of the benefits of the program are said to still be concentrated in the Java Island area, while areas with high stunting rates such as Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara are considered not to have received proportional benefits.

These various polemics are important records during Dadan Hindayana's leadership at the National Nutrition Agency. Now, after being officially detained by the Attorney General's Office, the journey of the MBG program has entered a new phase under the new leadership, while the legal process against Dadan is still ongoing.