Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency has temporarily suspended nearly 2,000 kitchens involved in the country’s free meals program due to noncompliance with mandatory hygiene registration requirements. Agency chief Sudaryono announced on Monday that 1,999 kitchens across Indonesia were shut down after failing to register with the health ministry for hygiene and sanitation certification.

As of September 7, a total of 27,022 kitchens remain operational in distributing free meals nationwide. The agency plans to conduct investigations on the suspended kitchens before determining any further measures. Sudaryono emphasized that adherence to hygiene and sanitation standards is essential to guarantee the quality of the food and the safety of the program’s recipients.

The free meals initiative, launched in January 2025 under President Prabowo Subianto, has faced multiple challenges since its inception. These include leadership turnovers, allegations of corruption, and several reported incidents of large-scale food poisoning. The recent suspension of kitchens marks another significant development in the program’s ongoing efforts to improve food safety and regulatory compliance.