RADAR TULUNGAGUNG – The Free Nutritious Meal Program in Tulungagung has drawn complaints from parents during Ramadan 2026. Many say the meals given to students are too simple and do not match the government budget.
Fendi Herlambang, a parent from Tulungagung district, criticized the food his child received at school. During Ramadan, schools provide dry meal packages. He said the package contained only three items, mainly dates and boiled eggs.
He also said students at one public elementary school received boiled eggs with dirt still stuck to the shells. “It only contains dates and boiled eggs. What does the nutrition unit actually do? The government has allocated a large budget. If this is the result, it is pointless,” he said.
Parents also criticized the packaging because vendors used thin plastic bags. They said this showed little attention to hygiene and food quality. Fendi questioned whether the meal price matched what students received.
“If suppliers buy ingredients at traditional markets, costs should be lower. Quality should be considered, not just convenience,” he said.
Officials confirmed that many residents reported the issue to the local task force hotline since early Ramadan. Johanes Bagus Kuncoro, head of the Tulungagung Free Nutritious Meal task force, said his team forwarded the complaints to the regional office of the National Nutrition Agency.
Task force secretary Sony Welly Ahmadi said officers logged each complaint and coordinated directly with the agency. Residents questioned both the price per portion and the menu quality.
“We documented all complaints and coordinated with the National Nutrition Agency regional office. Many reports mention price mismatch and food suitability,” he said.
Sony said meal costs range from 8,000 to 15,000 rupiah per portion. Some schools receive meals daily, while others receive several days’ supply at once. He added that the task force still waits for official guidance from the agency on pricing standards and field procedures.
The agency plans to inspect local Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units that prepare the meals. Tulungagung coordinator Sebrina Mahardika said her office is still investigating and will release an official statement soon.