Burger and Spaghetti? Free Meal Program Is Not a Restaurant!

Tangerang, 22 September 2025 - Nutritionist Tan Shot Yen openly criticized the Free Nutritional Meal (MBG) program on Monday, September 22, 2025, during a hearing with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Senayan, Jakarta. She argued that the program, which is supposed to support the nutrition of Indonesian children, instead serves foreign menu items such as burgers and spaghetti that are irrelevant to local culinary culture. Her sharp remarks quickly went viral and sparked widespread public discussion on social media.

In her criticism, Tan highlighted that many of the MBG menu items consist of foreign and processed foods, instead of traditional Indonesian dishes. "What are we doing with burgers and wheat? We don't even grow wheat here. There's no pasta here. Bakmi, spaghetti, and chicken katsu—those are all just for show," she asserted to members of the House of Representatives. Tan emphasized that the program fails to uphold food sovereignty by ignoring local agricultural products and dietary diversity.

She also expressed concerns about the quality of the food served. Tan described the burger buns served at MBG as "cardboard-like pink meat," questioning their nutritional value and safety. She also criticized the way children were asked to assemble their own meals. "Cooking for themselves is not the goal of MBG. Don't let children assemble their own burgers when the quality of the meat itself is questionable," she added.

In her recommendations, Tan emphasized that at least 80 percent of the MBG menu should consist of local foods that are not only nutritious but also culturally relevant. She gave concrete examples such as ikan kuah asam (fish in sour soup) for children in Papua and kapurung (a type of fish in sour soup) for students in Sulawesi. According to Tan, a local menu would better support the health of children and local farmers while instilling pride in Indonesian cuisine.

Responding to the criticism, Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), stated that menu variations, including burgers and spaghetti, are often adjusted to children's requests to prevent boredom. "Often, these variations are based on children's requests to prevent boredom," he said. However, he emphasized that the agency would accept this feedback for future evaluation. The debate surrounding the MBG since then has underscored the urgent need to balance nutritional goals with food sovereignty and cultural identity.