TWO INCIDENT, SAME KITCHEN:FREE NUTRITIOUS MEAL PROGRAM IN TANGGAMUS UNDER FIRE.
Two Incidents, Same Kitchen: Free Nutritious Meal Program in Tanggamus Under Fire
Tanggamus, Lampung — The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, a flagship initiative of the administration of Prabowo Subianto aimed at improving children’s nutrition across Indonesia, is facing renewed scrutiny after allegations of serious issues at a meal preparation facility in Tanggamus Regency.
The kitchen operated by SPPG Sudimoro, responsible for preparing meals for elementary school students, has reportedly been involved in two separate incidents involving problematic food distribution, raising concerns about oversight and food quality at the local level.
The latest incident occurred at SD Negeri 2 Sri Purnomo in Semaka District on Wednesday (March 11, 2026). Community members reported that the meals distributed to students were not consistent with the nutritional standards required under the MBG program. The report was later followed up by the Satgas Jalan Lurus task force.
According to Dwi Darmawati, a member of the task force, the organization received public complaints regarding the quality of the food provided to students.
“The program itself is very good, but if management at the local level is not handled seriously, its noble goal could fail. Based on our investigation, the SPPG Sudimoro kitchen is suspected of repeating mistakes since it began operations,” she said.
Public concern intensified after it emerged that the same kitchen had previously been criticized for allegedly distributing food that was unfit for consumption, with reports suggesting that some meals were stale or contaminated before reaching students.
The repeated incidents have sparked debate about the effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms in the field, particularly for a national program with a significant budget aimed at improving children’s health.
Meanwhile, Khoiri Syah, head of the Tanggamus branch of the Ikatan Penulis dan Jurnalis Indonesia (IPJI), said the case highlights a gap between the ambitious concept of the MBG program at the national level and the reality of its implementation in the regions.
“This program has a very large budget from the central government. However, in practice we are seeing various problems, ranging from food quality to what appears to be weak supervision,” he said.
Khoiri also suggested that the government should open wider opportunities for community involvement in monitoring the program. According to him, parents, teachers, and local small businesses (SMEs) could help ensure that the food served to children meets proper standards.
“If the program relies solely on contractors or large business operators, there is a concern that profit could become the primary focus. In fact, this program concerns the health and future of our children,” he added.
As of the time of publication, the management of the SPPG Sudimoro kitchen has not issued an official statement, despite confirmation requests from the Satgas Jalan Lurus task force and local journalists.
The issue has now drawn broader public attention, with growing calls for local authorities and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the MBG program’s implementation in Tanggamus.
With millions of students expected to benefit from the initiative nationwide, the incident has raised a pressing question among the public: Can a massive national nutrition program succeed if its execution at the grassroots level fails to meet basic standards?
(Dok.KN +/M.natsir)
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