Jakarta. Indonesian authorities have temporarily suspended more than 1,700 kitchens involved in the country’s flagship free meal program after finding widespread violations of food quality standards, a senior official said on Saturday.

Aries Marsudiyanto, head of the government’s Development Control and Special Investigation Agency (Bappisus), said the facilities, known as SPPG, were halted for attempting to cut costs by lowering meal standards.

“As of now, more than 1,700 SPPG units have been suspended,” Aries said at a public policy summit in East Jakarta, referring to ongoing coordination with the Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN).

The affected kitchens must address deficiencies identified during inspections or risk losing their operating licenses, he said, adding that many prospective operators are ready to replace those failing to meet requirements.

The findings highlight implementation challenges in one of President Prabowo Subianto’s signature programs, which aims to provide daily nutritious meals to 82 million schoolchildren and pregnant women to combat stunting and support economic growth.

Aries said inspections uncovered multiple cases of portion manipulation and reduced food quality. In some instances, a single chicken intended for 12 servings was divided into up to 20 portions, while eggs, expected to be served more frequently, were provided only a few times a week.

“These are tactics by operators trying to maximize profit by reducing specifications,” he said. “Children must receive nutritious meals that meet the proper standards.”

The program, known as The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG), is currently implemented nationwide through 23,678 SPPG kitchens serving millions of beneficiaries. The largest share of recipients is in Sumatra, with about 12.3 million people, followed by Sulawesi with around 4.4 million.

The suspensions come amid broader concerns over food safety. Data from BGN showed more than 11,000 suspected food poisoning cases in 2025 linked to the program, with the highest number reported in West Java. Separately, the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network reported over 1,200 suspected cases in the first two weeks of 2026 alone.

Authorities say tighter supervision is needed to ensure the program delivers on its goals without compromising safety or nutritional value.

Aries urged operators to prioritize quality over profit. “This program is at the front line of shaping our future generation,” he said. “We must ensure children receive safe and nutritious food.”

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