Jakarta. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has imposed a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new kitchens under the government’s flagship free nutritious meals (MBG) program amid mounting scrutiny over governance, funding, and food safety issues.

BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari said the agency was prioritizing improvements to existing Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units, also known as SPPG kitchens, rather than expanding the network further.

“The focus is now on validating the actual beneficiaries first, instead of prioritizing the establishment of kitchens,” Agustina told lawmakers after a hearing with House of Representatives Commission IX at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Monday.

Under the revised approach, the agency will adjust kitchen operations and incentives based on the number of beneficiaries served in each region.

“Previously, the priority was kitchen formation, but now the focus is on beneficiaries first. Incentives will also no longer be fixed at Rp 6 million ($338) but adjusted according to the number of beneficiaries served,” she said.

The MBG program is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship social initiatives aimed at improving child nutrition nationwide.

Agustina said BGN’s current priority was ensuring the program reached communities most in need of nutritional intervention rather than rapidly increasing the number of kitchens.

As part of the restructuring process, some kitchens may be merged or reduced if the number of beneficiaries in certain areas is deemed insufficient to support multiple facilities.

“It is very possible that some kitchens will be combined, reduced, or that new kitchens will be formed, but everything must be based on the beneficiaries being served,” she said.

The agency is also preparing stricter operational standards to ensure food quality and hygiene compliance at MBG kitchens.

The moratorium comes as the Attorney General’s Office investigates alleged irregularities in the program. Prosecutors allege former senior BGN officials manipulated the verification process to favor affiliated foundations seeking MBG contracts.

The MBG program originally targeted around 21,000 kitchens nationwide, but the number reportedly expanded to 27,877 following alleged sales of SPPG operating permits involving former agency leaders and senior officials.

Authorities estimate the increase has resulted in excess monthly spending of around Rp 1 trillion ($55.6 million).

The program has also faced operational disruptions in recent weeks, with hundreds of kitchens temporarily halting services because funding from BGN had yet to be disbursed.

At the same time, authorities are tightening oversight of SPPGs following reports of food poisoning incidents and poor hygiene standards at several facilities.

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