FAO: 43.5% of Indonesians Cannot Afford Nutritious Food, State Intervenes via MBG

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in its 2025 report on the state of food security and nutrition, notes that 43.5% of Indonesians cannot afford healthy food. Indonesia ranks 70th out of 123 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025, indicating that the hunger level in the country is still moderate. For underprivileged families, meeting basic needs such as food is a matter of survival. The share of income allocated to food is so high that even minor price increases make nutritious food an unaffordable luxury. The Free Nutritious Food program (MBG) was implemented to tackle this issue, especially in remote areas where protein sources are typically inaccessible. Experts emphasize that MBG is a crucial investment in the future generation, leading to improved intellectual development of children and potential GDP growth.