Chairman of the Executive Board of the Nahdlatul Ulama Students Association (IPNU), Muhammad Agil Nuruz Zaman, has asked the Ministry of Trade to prioritize domestic producers in supplying food trays for Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, following reports that imported trays from China may contain pork-derived substances.

“Today we submitted a letter to the Minister of Trade, recommending that the MBG food trays should come from Indonesian entrepreneurs. State funds should not be flowing abroad; the products must be made in Indonesia, using Indonesian materials, and manufactured locally,” Agil said on Monday, August 25, 2025.

He emphasized that safety and halal compliance must also be guaranteed. “In a country where more than 80 percent of the population is Muslim, safe products are not only those that are healthy, but also those that are halal. We fully support domestic producers to compete and play their rightful role in our country,” he added.

Agil warned that continued reliance on imports could sideline local industry. “If we keep on importing, local producers will lose out. In fact, local manufacturers are ready and capable of meeting the MBG program’s needs. The government must stop imports and give space to local producers — our own workers, our own people,” he said.

According to Agil, Chinese producers doubled in number after the MBG program was launched, with one company alone reportedly sending three million trays to Indonesia.

“Meanwhile, our local associations are already prepared to supply what the program requires. This is why we are pushing the government to act,” he said.

IPNU has submitted its recommendations as policy input, stressing that the matter should also be brought to President Prabowo Subianto’s attention.

Free nutritious meal program has been one of the flagship programs of President Prabowo.