Anwar Lubis, Adnan Engelen, Clara Novita Anggraini, Rini Kurniawati, Irhamni Rahman
This study examines Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) through a comparative narrative review of global school feeding systems, with the objective of identifying structural determinants of sustainability, governance coherence, and cultural legitimacy in public nutrition policy. Although MBG represents one of the largest school feeding initiatives globally, its long-term effectiveness depends on institutional integration across nutrition standards, decentralized implementation, and culturally embedded food systems. A narrative literature review design was employed, supported by structured search and screening procedures to ensure methodological transparency. Evidence from interdisciplinary scholarship and institutional policy reports was synthesized through a food systems framework encompassing nutritional governance, cultural integration, and sustainability. Twelve studies were selected for in-depth comparative analysis following staged eligibility assessment. Findings indicate that durable school feeding systems are supported by four interdependent pillars: legal continuity, decentralized governance capacity, community participation, and cultural alignment. International experience demonstrates that integration of national dietary standards with localized procurement structures, food safety regulation, and nutrition education strengthens program resilience. The analysis identifies institutional coordination gaps and operational challenges relevant to MBG and proposes a culturally informed governance model to enhance long-term effectiveness within Indonesia’s decentralized policy environment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
Culinary Art Study Program, Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Street of Daeng Tata Raya, Parangtambung, South Sulawesi, Makassar, 90223, Indonesia; Department of Food Technology, Gorontalo State University, Street of Jenderal Sudirman, Gorontalo, 96128, Indonesia; Department of Communication Science, Telkom University, Street of Telekomunikasi Terusan Buah Batu No 1 Learning Center (Bangkit) Building, Bandung, 40257, Indonesia; Department of Industrial Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Nusantara Lampung, Street of Pulau Damar, Lampung, 35131, Indonesia; Department of Social Welfare Science, Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta, Street of K.H. Ahmad Dahlan, Tangerang Selatan, 15419, Indonesia
