February 26, 2026 | 02:25 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, the deputy head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), admitted to receiving reports about price markups in the free nutritious meals (MBG) program. According to her, the owners of several Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) or public kitchens, marked up the raw materials used for the free meals.
Nanik received the report during a briefing with 933 MBG kitchen operators in Surakarta, Boyolali, Sragen, and Karanganyar in Solo, Central Java, on late Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
When asked, Nanik refused to disclose how many reports she received, but revealed that the report came from several heads of SPPGs who reported fraudulent practices in the free nutritious meal management in their region.
"Many heads of SPPGs reported about partners who often mark up prices above the highest retail price (HET) and force them to accept poor-quality raw materials," Nanik said, as quoted on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
In response to the report, Nanik instructed the regional coordinators to directly inspect the kitchens suspected of imposing additional costs for MBG-specified raw materials. Nanik also warned kitchen staff—the SPPG head, financial supervisors, and nutrition supervisors—to refuse to collude with dishonest kitchen owners.
"Never agree to their demands, especially collaborating with SPPG partners who mark up the prices of food raw materials for MBG with poor-quality food materials," she said.
According to Nanik, SPPG employees are vulnerable to legal issues if the Supreme Audit Agency detects any price markup of food materials above HET. Meanwhile, kitchen owners, she said, could find loopholes to escape.
She also threatened to suspend the operational permits of kitchens if caught marking up prices.
Nanik emphasized that SPPGs must supply raw materials for the free nutritious meals from a minimum of 15 different suppliers, especially local business groups in agriculture, animal farms, cooperatives, and MSMEs. The communities around the public kitchens, she said must benefit from President Prabowo Subianto's priority program.
Read: Ministry Confirms Zakat Funds Will Not Be Used for Free Meal Program
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