National Nutrition Agency

Last updated
National Nutrition Agency
Badan Gizi Nasional
Logo Badan Gizi Nasional (2024).png
National Nutrition Agency
Agency overview
Formed15 August 2024
Preceding agency
Jurisdiction Indonesia
HeadquartersGedung E Kementerian Pertanian
Jl. Harsono RM 3, Ragunan, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta
Annual budgetIDR 71 Trillions (USD 4.542 Billions) (2025)
Agency executives
  • Dadan Hindayana, Chief
  • Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, deputy
Website https://www.bgn.go.id/

The National Nutrition Agency (Indonesian : Badan Gizi Nasional), is a cabinet-level agency formed by President Joko Widodo to initiate Prabowo Subianto's free lunch for students and provide nutritional adequacy for 4 vulnerable groups: students (of elementary to senior high school, special needs education, and pesantrens), toddlers, pregnant women, and lactating women. [1] 82.9 million people of total Indonesian population will be targeted as beneficiary of this program. [2]

Contents

This agency is realization of Prabowo's campaign for providing free, nutritious food. [3] [4] [5]

History

During his campaign, Prabowo promised that he will provide lunches for students. [3]

As the seed of the agency, a deputy of the National Food Agency, Deputy II (Food and Nutritional Insecurity) taken out from the agency and transformed into the agency. [6] Due to this, National Nutrition Agency shared same office with National Food Agency during its formation period. [7]

On 15 August 2024, Joko Widodo signed formation of two of Prabowo's future cabinet-level agencies. National Nutrition Agency is one of the agencies. The National Nutrition Agency formed to facilitate and fulfill Prabowo's mission. [8]

Despite being formed to fulfill Prabowo's free lunch program, Joko Widodo expected that in the future the agency not only take role as facilitator of free lunch program only, but also promoting and cultivating healthy lifestyle in Indonesia. [2]

In October 2024, Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency, announced that the Indonesian government plans to allocate up to Rp 800 billion (US $51.16 million) per day for a free meals program to feed children across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address child nutrition and improve food security nationwide. [9]

Funding

IDR 71 trillions (US$4.542 billions) had been allocated in 2025, when the agency fully functioned to execute the program. [5] Sri Mulyani, Minister of Finance, revealed that IDR 71 trillions used to fund the program is already allocated and will not take funds previously allocated for education affairs. [10]

Structure

Based on the Presidential Decree No. 83/2024, the agency consisted of:

Around 100 Technical Implementation Units will be formed as servicing units under the agency. [11]

Food poisonings

Since the launch of the free meals program on 6 January 2025, repeated cases of mass food poisoning have been reported nationwide. The first occurred on 16 January in Sukoharjo when ten students fell ill, followed by similar incidents across multiple provinces. By late September, 6,452 children had been affected nationwide, and the National Nutrition Agency noted 4,711 suspected cases out of one billion portions served. [12] A later report recorded 16,109 affected pupils as of 31 October. [13]

The Ministry of Health attributed the incidents to bacterial and viral contamination, linked to poor kitchen sanitation. [14] NGOs urged the government to suspend the ten-billion-dollar program, calling the outbreaks a "systematic failure". [15]

Government responses varied. West Java suspended the program in several areas after hundreds of students fell ill. [16] President Prabowo Subianto defended the initiative, later acknowledging flaws and citing a 0.0007 percent incident rate. [17] [18] A 13-ministry coordination team was later formed for daily monitoring. [19]

Lawmakers also commented on the issue, stating that difficulties were expected in a program of this scale. [20]

References

  1. ↑ Musthafa, S.A.N. (2024-08-19). "Fakta-fakta Badan Gizi Nasional yang Dibentuk Jokowi, demi Program Makan Gratis Prabowo?". Pikiran Rakyat (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  2. 1 2 Antara Terbit (2024-08-20). "Jokowi Tak Mau Badan Gizi Cuma Urus Program Makan Bergizi Gratis". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. 1 2 Nurdiana, Titis. "Badan Gizi Nasional Garap Program Makan Gratis". Kontan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ↑ Hikam, Herdi Alif Al. "3 Fakta Badan Gizi Dibentuk Jokowi buat Eksekusi Program Makan Gratis Prabowo". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. 1 2 "Cek Fakta Badan Gizi Nasional: Fondasi Makan Siang Gratis Prabowo - Sektor Riil". www.bloombergtechnoz.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  6. ↑ Media, Kompas Cyber (2024-08-19). "Tugas, Fungsi, dan Pegawai Deputi Kerawanan Gizi Bapanas Dialihkan ke Badan Gizi Nasional". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  7. ↑ Azzahra, Qonita (2024-08-26). "Badan Gizi Nasional akan Sekantor dengan Bapanas untuk Sementara". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ↑ Safitri, Eva. "Jokowi Bentuk Badan Gizi Nasional demi Cukupi Gizi Balita hingga Ibu Hamil". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  9. ↑ antaranews.com (2024-10-09). "Agency head confirms Rp800 B daily spending for free meals program". Antara News. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  10. ↑ Azzahra, Qonita (2024-09-03). "Sri Mulyani Pastikan Makan Bergizi Gratis Tak Pakai Dana BOS". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  11. ↑ Ayuningrum, Retno. "Makan Bergizi Gratis Dimulai 2025, 100 Unit Pelayanan Disiapkan". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  12. ↑ Teresia, Ananda; Christina, Bernadette. "Indonesia urged to halt $10 billion free school meals plan after mass food poisoning". Reuters. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  13. ↑ Mardianti, Dede Leni (2025-11-04). "JPPI: Kasus Keracunan MBG Tembus 16.109 Orang Per 31 Oktober 2025" (in Indonesian). Tempo. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  14. ↑ Ni'am, Syakirun (2025-10-01). "Ini 8 Bakteri dan 2 Virus Penyebab Keracunan MBG yang Diungkap Menkes". Kompas. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  15. ↑ Teresia, Ananda; Budiman, Yuddy Cahya (2025-09-25). "Over 1,000 Indonesians sick from school meals in more food poisoning outbreaks". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  16. ↑ Marsiela, Adi; Karmini, Niniek (2025-09-25). "Indonesia faces calls to halt free meals program as over 5,000 school children fall ill". AP News. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  17. ↑ Nata Widjaja, Yovie Given; Prastiwi, Mahar (2025-05-06). "Kasus Keracunan MBG, Prabowo: Siswa Tak Gunakan Sendok Saat Makan". Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  18. ↑ Mawangi, Genta Tenri (2025-10-16). "Prabowo perketat SOP MBG untuk cegah insiden keracunan". Antara (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  19. ↑ Mardianti, Dede Leni (2025-11-04). "Minister: Prabowo Government's Success Hinges on Free Meal Program". Tempo. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  20. ↑ Ahmad, Bagus; Riswan, Kuntum Khaira (2025-10-15). Nasution, Rahmad (ed.). "DPR member says issues with free nutritious meals program reasonable". Antara. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
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