Bulog Chief Says Premium Rice Can Be Used for Free Nutritious Meal Program

Jakarta: State logistics agency Bulog has stated that premium rice can be used to meet the requirements of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, in accordance with government directives.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said that the premium rice utilized for the MBG program would be branded as "Beras Kita Premium."

"Premium rice can also be used for the MBG program," Rizal said following a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta, as reported by Antara on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

According to Rizal, the use of premium rice follows directives from Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman and Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan.

"For the MBG program, in line with the directives from the Agriculture Minister and the Coordinating Minister, we will continue to use premium rice. The packaging will be branded as 'Beras Kita Premium'," Rizal stated.

Premium rice differs from fortified rice

Rizal noted that Bulog is not preparing a separate product labeled as "fortified rice" for the MBG supply in question. He has not yet detailed the volume of premium rice to be allocated for the program, the timing of delivery, or the distribution mechanism to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG).

He explained that "Beras Kita Premium" is a commercial product of Bulog. The product does not utilize rice from the Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme.

The government previously agreed to use the "Beras Kita" brand identity for its rice products: "Beras Kita Medium" and "Beras Kita Premium." "Beras Kita Medium" serves as the new brand identity for rice in the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, while "Beras Kita Premium" is Bulog's premium rice product.

The packaging for "Beras Kita Medium" and "Beras Kita Premium" is scheduled to be launched on October 20, 2026. Bulog stated that "Beras Kita Premium" is marketed without subsidies, whereas "Beras Kita Medium" is used in government programs. Fortified rice for vulnerable groups

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that, generally speaking, fortified rice is not a substitute for premium rice.

Fortified rice is intended as a specialized food product for vulnerable groups, including toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and people experiencing poverty.

The National Food Agency has also tightened oversight of fortified rice products after discovering items with nutritional claims that did not match laboratory test results.

A total of 25 brands from 11 business operators received warnings and were observed halting production in early September 2026.