The Ministry of Religious Affairs has pledged immediate corrective action following reports that stainless steel trays used in the government’s Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) may contain pork-derived substances, raising concerns over halal compliance.

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said the government would not compromise on halal standards.

“We will examine the findings thoroughly and make improvements right away if there are irregularities. Public feedback is welcome, and we are committed to ensuring the program meets halal requirements in all aspects,” Nasaruddin said on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

The issue was first raised by Poros Pelajar, a student coalition led by the Student wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim Organization (IPNU). The group questioned the trays’ halal status, noting that they were reportedly imported from China.

IPNU chairman Muhammad Agil Nuruz Zaman said laboratory verification was essential to confirm whether the trays were truly halal.

“If these food trays are halal, then the production process and raw materials must be examined more deeply,” Agil noted.

Investigative report raises red flags

The controversy gained traction after an Indonesia Business Post (IBP) investigation on August 25, 2025 revealed that factories in Chaoshan, Guangdong Province, China manufactured millions of trays for the MBG program.

The report alleged the products carried false “Made in Indonesia” labels and counterfeit SNI (Indonesian National Standard) certification, violating Indonesian law and WTO trade rules.

More worryingly, IBP reported that trays production might involve the use of lard oil as part of industrial lubricants and that many trays were made from Type 201 stainless steel, a material deemed unsafe for food contact and still widely used despite regulatory concerns.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has not yet confirmed whether the trays in circulation indeed fail halal standards, but Nasaruddin stressed that the government “would act decisively” to maintain public trust in the MBG program.