Does the MBG Program Involve Local MSMEs? Residents' View

According to a survey by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), 30.05% of Indonesian respondents believe that the free nutritious meals program (MBG) in their area has predominantly involved local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as suppliers of ingredients.

Furthermore, 28.84% of respondents stated that some MBG ingredients came from local MSMEs, while others were supplied from outside the region.

On the other hand, 13.61% of respondents felt that MBG suppliers in their area did not involve local MSMEs at all, and all ingredients came from large companies outside the region.

There were also 27.49% of respondents who did not know the extent of local MSME involvement in the implementation of MBG in their area.

"This indicates a lack of transparency or socialization regarding which economic actors are involved in the MBG program," said Celios in a report titled Meals (Not) Nutritious (Not) Free.

The survey also found that the majority, or 48.25% of respondents, did not know who the catering provider at schools was.

Then, 35.58% knew partially, and only 16.17% knew for sure about the catering provider or food supplier at schools.

"The low level of public knowledge reflects the potential for information asymmetry that can hinder the effectiveness of MBG in mobilizing community participation," Celios stated.

Celios conducted this survey on 1,868 respondents spread across rural, suburban, and urban areas, thus assumed to represent the demographic of the Indonesian population.

Data collection was done online through targeted advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. Celios did not specify when the survey was conducted, but its report was published on December 15, 2025.