MBG Kitchen in Kalibata Stops Cooking, National Nutrition Agency Gives Explanation

MEDAN, KOMPAS – The National Nutrition Agency or BGN stated that it will resolve the issue of the free nutritious kitchen that has ceased operations for nearly a month in the Kalibata area, Pancoran, South Jakarta. BGN mentioned that it has already paid the catering fees to the foundation. The kitchen stopped cooking due to issues between the foundation and its partner.

"Today we came directly to resolve the issue. We will wait for the results; what is clear is that it must operate again because the problem is not too severe," said Deputy for Promotion and Cooperation of BGN Nyoto Suwignyo, on the sidelines of a community empowerment event for the MBG program, Wednesday (16/4/2025), in Medan, North Sumatra.

As reported by Kompas.id, Tuesday (15/4/2025), the problem of the kitchen stopping operating arose due to problems between the MBN Foundation and the catering kitchen partner, Ira Mesra Destiawati (59).

Ira claimed to have suffered losses of nearly Rp 1 billion because the MBG management foundation had not paid for catering for two months. The kitchen provided catering for 19 schools. As a result of these losses, the MBG kitchen has stopped cooking since mid-March 2025.

When Kompas visited the kitchen on Tuesday afternoon, there was no cooking activity. The kitchen was completely empty and there was no employee activity. Due to the losses she experienced, Ira reported the alleged fraud and embezzlement to the South Jakarta Metro Police on April 10, 2025.

Catering partners also protested the price that did not align with the cooperation contract, which was Rp 15,000 per portion. They stated that the foundation unilaterally reduced the price to Rp 13,000 per portion and further deducted Rp 2,500 for the foundation. As a result, catering partners ultimately received only Rp 10,500 per portion.

Nyoto stated that the issue of the kitchen ceasing operations is an internal matter between the foundation and the catering provider partner. BGN has already paid Rp 386.5 million to the foundation. According to Nyoto, BGN has no outstanding payments for the MBG catering.

Nyoto explained that BGN will continue to conduct evaluations and improvements to ensure that the implementation of MBG runs smoothly, including how the relationship between the foundation and catering service partners is managed.

Regarding the price received by partners, Nyoto stated that the price of Rp 10,500 is still in line with the cost of raw materials. The price in the cooperation contract of Rp 15,000 per portion already includes operational costs, subscriptions, services, and return on investment. "Thus, it is reasonable for the raw material price to be Rp 10,000 because there are operational costs that need to be covered," he said.

Nyoto requested that catering provider partners commit to operating for a minimum of five years. Therefore, whenever there is a kitchen construction for MBG, BGN requests that investments be prepared for five years of operations and must be managed in a professional manner.

Nyoto added that BGN is committed to resolving the issues between the foundation and the catering provider partners for the Kalibata area. According to him, this matter should be resolved so that the kitchen in Kalibata can operate again.

Previously, Danna Harly, the legal representative of the catering service provider in the Kalibata area, expressed regret over the actions of the MBN Foundation for not paying her client's dues. In fact, her client had already prepared 65,025 portions of MBG.

According to Danna, all operational funds for MBG—from food supplies, rent, vehicles, electricity, kitchen equipment, to chefs—come from Ira's personal finances. However, the foundation has not paid a single penny to Ira.

Today we visited directly to resolve the issue. We await the results; it is clear that operations must resume as the problem is not too severe.

Danna hopes that the government will periodically evaluate the MBG program so that incidents like this do not happen again.

When confirmed by Kompas, Tuesday night, the Person in Charge of the MBN Foundation, Yunita, denied that Ira was not paid. Yunita claimed to have paid her obligations to Ira. She claimed to have evidence and witnesses related to the payment.