Jakarta, Sept. 22 -- Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has rejected claims that thousands of kitchens serving free meals are fake, stressing that all development processes are strictly monitored to support the government's priority nutrition program.

BGN Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya said on Monday that the rumors stemmed from banners announcing future kitchens - formally known as Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) - appearing at some sites before physical construction began.

"We are confident there are no fake SPPGs. The rumors likely spread because some locations had banners but no visible activity," Sonjaya explained.

He acknowledged that some registered kitchen sites on BGN's partner platform showed no progress for ...