Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. A viral Facebook post claiming 500 million Indonesian children became malnourished after the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program was paused is a hoax.

According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the country’s total population as of June 2026 is only approximately 287 million people, while residents aged 0–19 numbered only 88 million in February 2026. Therefore, the claim of 500 million malnourished children is statistically impossible.

During school holidays, MBG services are temporarily suspended for students and non-student groups, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers, according the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in Circular Letter Number 12 of 2026.

The agency confirmed that the suspension is a standard operational adjustment during the academic holiday period, debunking the online disinformation surrounding the program's temporary pause.

(mg/sy/pr/rs)