Recent incidents of mass food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program have shaken public confidence. Hundreds of students across various regions in Indonesia were rushed to healthcare facilities after consuming meals provided under the FNM initiative at schools. Beyond the issue of food safety, this crisis exposes deeper flaws in the governance, economic structure, and political motivations underpinning this large-scale populist program. A critical question emerges: who truly benefits, and who is marginalized by such a program? The government markets the FNM as a pro-people policy aimed at improving child nutrition and social welfare. However, this analysis reveals sharp contradictions behind its “pro-people” facade, from adverse economic side effects to risks to fiscal sustainability, which may create an illusion of prosperity rather than a genuine solution. Adopting a formal, analytical, and politically neutral approach, this article critically examines the FNM: Is it truly an effective remedy for malnutrition and poverty, or merely a temporary painkiller masking deeper structural issues?
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