Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has dismissed the possibility of corruption within the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, citing a robust financial management system designed to ensure transparency and accountability.

Dadan emphasized that strict controls are in place to prevent misuse of state funds allocated for the nationwide nutrition program.

“There is no room for corruption in the MBG program. We use virtual accounts that must be co-signed by both the implementing partner and the agency. All ingredients and operations are procured strictly at cost,” Dadan told a press conference at the Public Works Ministry on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

He said further that the procurement of raw materials must adhere to official market price references, allowing the system to automatically flag any markup attempts by partners.

In cases where partners were found manipulating costs, audits conducted by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) led to the recovery of funds.

“The chance of budget misuse is extremely small because the funds do not go through BGN accounts. The money is transferred directly from the State Treasury Office (KPPN) to the designated virtual accounts,” Dadan cited.

The MBG program is a central pillar in the government’s strategy to reduce malnutrition and ensure equitable food access, particularly for schoolchildren in underserved and remote regions.

Still, while financial risks are minimized, Dadan admitted that he is more concerned about food safety, particularly the risk of foodborne illness.

“If you ask me about the biggest risks in this program, it’s budget misuse and food poisoning. And frankly, I worry more about the latter,” he said.

According to Dadan, the complexity of the MBG food distribution chain makes food safety a major challenge. Contamination risks can arise from various points from raw material selection and food preparation to delivery and the physical condition of students when meals are consumed.

He cited a past incident where a student, who was already unwell, vomitted after eating the meal, sparking panic and assumptions of mass food poisoning across the school.

“We continue to tighten supervision and improve protocols so that every risk factor is properly identified,” he concluded.