31 Santri in Jombang Poisoned by MBG Salted Eggs at Iftar, Some Fainted

Dozens of santri at the Sholawat Darut Taubah Islamic boarding school in Jombang Regency were poisoned by a meal provided under the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. The incident occurred after they ate the MBG meal, believed to include salted eggs, during Iftar. Detikjatim reported on Friday (6 March 2026) that the mass poisoning happened on Thursday (5 March) around 6:00 pm local time. Shortly after eating, the santri began experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and fainting.

One santri, Azza Khoirun Nisa (17), said the symptoms appeared immediately after they started breaking their fast. The buka puasa menu that evening included rice, rawon, and salted eggs.

‘Some of the santri fainted. Many vomited, they were weak. Among the female students, seven of the total 34 were not affected; I don’t know about the male students,’ the Surabaya-born student told reporters at the scene.

The caretaker of the Ponpes Sholawat Darut Taubah, Muhammad Adam, said there were 84 students in total across junior high and senior high levels, consisting of 36 girls and 48 boys. On Thursday, the students received MBG in the form of bread, fruit and salted eggs that were delivered by SPPG Betek earlier that morning around 9:00 am local time. For Iftar, they cooked rice and rawon, using salted eggs from the MBG as the side dish.

‘After Maghrib, the children broke their fast. Some ate only half, some finished eating and then felt nauseated and vomited. I initially thought it was late meals causing indigestion or something, but it turned out to involve all of them—many girls, some were weak, crying, and fainting,’ he said.