Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, Hasan said many schools that urgently need nutritional intervention have yet to be included in the program.
He noted that the government will conduct a comprehensive mapping of beneficiaries over the next month to ensure the program reaches those who need it most.
"This program will be reorganized because we want to focus on communities that are still underserved. There are significant gaps, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions," he said.
Hasan also emphasized the government's commitment to improving the quality of MBG kitchens, officially known as Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs). He stressed that the government would apply zero tolerance toward hygiene violations, including poor sanitation and unclean equipment.
"There is no tolerance when it comes to food safety. Even a single incident is unacceptable. We cannot allow any more cases of food poisoning," he said.
Meanwhile, Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Nanik S. Deyang said the agency is implementing a series of efficiency measures to ensure the program remains financially sustainable without compromising nutritional targets for beneficiaries.
One of the measures is a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new kitchens. Currently, 27,877 SPPGs are in operation, and the government plans to review their distribution and service capacity to ensure they match beneficiary needs in each region.
Nanik said BGN has also temporarily suspended the registration of new kitchens while conducting a nationwide assessment of service requirements. The move is intended to address the uneven distribution of facilities, which remain heavily concentrated on Java.
Another key step involves reprioritizing beneficiaries to ensure nutritional assistance is directed toward groups that genuinely need support. An evaluation is currently underway to reassess the existing beneficiary pool, which stands at approximately 63 million people.
In addition, BGN will strengthen oversight of service quality. In 2026, the agency will focus on improving program quality rather than merely expanding its scale.
The evaluation process will ensure that operating kitchens comply with technical standards and possess adequate capacity to serve beneficiaries effectively.
Nanik stressed that the MBG program is a national mandate that must be implemented properly. Beyond improving children's nutritional intake, the initiative is also expected to stimulate economic activity at the grassroots level.
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Translator: Putu Indah, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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