September 17, 2024

 

Indonesia's free lunch programme stirs debate over potential use of fish milk

The inclusion of "fish milk" as a potential ingredient in Indonesia's upcoming free lunch programme, proposed by Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto, has sparked debate, with concerns about whether the alternative is genuinely healthy or simply unpalatable, The Straits Times reported.

 

In Indonesia, fish milk is produced by processing local fish protein into powder form, which is then turned into a liquid and flavoured to mask its "fishy" taste.

 

The idea of using fish milk for the free lunch programme first emerged in early September. During a media briefing, Sis Apik Wijayanto, president director of local food company ID Food, revealed that studies were underway to explore alternatives to cow's milk.

 

"There may be alternative products that can replace cow's milk. Everything is under study. For example, milk from fish is also available," he told reporters in Jakarta.

 

It has been reported that ID Food, a state-owned enterprise, will be involved in the implementation of Mr Prabowo's meal plan. The programme, which will launch in January 2025, is projected to cost IDR 71 trillion (US$4.6 billion) and aims to provide lunch to all schoolchildren across the country.

 

Fish milk was first introduced in 2023 as part of a government-led initiative by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to capitalise on Indonesia's abundant fish resources. The effort sought to create downstream fishery products, including fish milk, which was developed in collaboration with local companies like Beri Protein and state-owned enterprises such as ID Food.

 

Although fish milk is available for purchase on e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, data on its sales is limited. Fish protein hydrolysates, the base component of fish milk, are primarily used as supplements or additives rather than direct substitutes for cow's milk.

 

Critics of the lunch programme have raised concerns over whether Indonesia's supply of cow milk can meet the demands of the initiative. Official statistics indicate that domestic fresh milk production supplies only around 22.7% of the country's needs, with the remainder being imported.

 

As demand for milk continues to rise, local production has been declining, dropping from 951,003 tonnes in 2018 to 837,223 tonnes in 2023.

 

On September 12, Khodijah A Zahir, programme manager at Beri Protein, confirmed that her company had met with ID Food to discuss expanding the production and development of fish milk.

 

While the government has yet to make any official announcements regarding the use of fish milk, it has not been ruled out. Responding to questions on September 10, National Nutrition Agency head Dadan Hindayana stated that while no formal decision has been made to include fish milk in the free lunch programme, the government will "accommodate everything that is good."

 

However, critics remain sceptical, citing concerns over the potential high sugar content in fish milk and the lack of comprehensive scientific research on its long-term health effects on children.

 

-      The Straits Times