Indonesia
Society
An assessment issued in April by Jakarta-based think-tank Center for Economic and Law Studies (Celious) estimated that between 62 million and 120 million packages of meals prepared and disbursed under the program were wasted each week.
West Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sulistianto (right) inpects the food preparation for the free nutritious meal program at a kitchen managed by the West Aceh Police in West Aceh regency, Aceh on Aug. 6, 2026. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) requires all free meal kitchen to have hygiene and sanitation certificates (SLHS) by Aug. 10 to avoid permanent closure. (Antara/Syifa Yulinnas)
Concerns have arisen about the mounting volume of food waste generated by President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program, prompting calls for stringent waste management, an aspect critics argue has been overlooked since its rollout in 2025.An assessment issued in April by Jakarta-based think-tank Center for Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) estimated that between 62 million and 120 million packages of meals prepared and disbursed under the program were wasted each week.
