Ministry Strengthens Culinary Standards for Free Meals Program

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Creative Economy Ministry on Sunday, February 15, 2026, launched a chef-led training initiative in Lampung to strengthen food safety and culinary standards under the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which currently serves tens of millions of beneficiaries nationwide.

Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya officially opened the Cooking with a Master Chef (MASAMO) program at the Rajabasa 3 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Bandar Lampung. The initiative aims to improve the competency of community kitchen cooks who prepare meals for schoolchildren, pregnant women, and toddlers.

Fifty SPPG cooks participated in intensive training led by MasterChef Indonesia judge Norman Ismail, focusing on professional kitchen standards in large-scale food production.

“The MBG program is not just about fulfilling the nutritional needs of schoolchildren, pregnant women, and toddlers. Strengthening the capacity of cooks is key so that the quality, hygiene standards, and nutritional values set can be maintained consistently across Indonesia,” Minister Teuku Riefky said during the event, as quoted on the Ministry's official website.

The training covered food safety, personal hygiene, raw ingredient management, cooked food storage, and the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.

Participants also learned healthy cooking techniques designed to preserve nutritional value, in line with standards set by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), as well as community kitchen management to support high-volume food distribution.

The ministry said the MBG program currently reaches around 65 million beneficiaries through more than 21,897 service units nationwide. The government aims to expand coverage to more than 83 million beneficiaries this year, supported by over 36,600 SPPG units across Indonesia.

Minister Teuku Riefky said the initiative also reflects President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for the creative economy sector, particularly the culinary subsector, to contribute to national development and regional economic growth.

“Through MASAMO, we are strengthening the human resources of MBG kitchens while encouraging the involvement of the creative industry in raising national culinary standards that contribute to regional economic growth,” he said.

The program in Lampung involved collaboration among the Creative Economy Ministry, the Lampung provincial administration, the Metro city administration, the National Nutrition Agency, SPPG managers, and private-sector partners, including thekitchenware brand Oxone.

Officials said the initiative is expected to improve service quality while supporting local supply chains, including agriculture, livestock, and trade sectors linked to the meals program.

Minister Teuku Riefky formally declared the MASAMO program open at the end of the event, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving professional standards in community kitchens as the MBG program continues to expand nationwide. ***