431 Students in Sidoarjo Suspected of Food Poisoning from Free Nutritious Meal Programme; Provider Suspended

A total of 431 students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, are suspected of suffering food poisoning after consuming Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) on Tuesday (1/9). The students are currently receiving treatment at eight referral hospitals.

One student, SZ (15), reported eating the MBG lunch, which consisted of white rice, scrambled eggs, tempeh in Balinese seasoning, sautéed green beans with baby corn, and an apple. She noted that the vegetables tasted sour, and by late afternoon, she began experiencing nausea, weakness, and dizziness.

Abdul Wahid Harun, the caretaker of the Manbaul Hikam boarding school, stated that the school has approximately 1,000 students, all of whom consumed the MBG on the day of the incident. He confirmed that 431 students had to be evacuated to hospitals due to varying physical conditions.

Wahid emphasised that the incident was unexpected and clarified that the source of the poisoning was the food processed by the Kalitengah Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Tanggulangin, rather than food prepared by the school itself. He noted that the school merely receives the meals provided by the SPPG.

Regarding the continuation of teaching activities, Wahid stated that the school is monitoring the situation closely and has established a post to oversee the condition of students both in hospitals and at the boarding school. He also denied rumours of a heavy police presence, stating that authorities are actually assisting in the management of the situation.

The Deputy Governor of East Java and Chairman of the East Java MBG Task Force, Emil Elestianto Dardark, refuted rumours of any fatalities resulting from the mass poisoning. He confirmed that the issue was not limited to the Manbaul Hikam boarding school but also affected students from several other schools receiving meals from the same provider.

Emil noted that 19 educational institutions, including primary, secondary, and high schools, as well as kindergartens in the Tanggulangin district, were affected. He revealed that the Kalitengah SPPG had previously obtained a Sanitary Hygiene Suitability Certificate (SLHS), and its facilities and staff certifications appeared adequate on paper.

However, Emil noted that such certification does not fully guarantee safety, as deviations could still occur in food ingredient quality or timing during the execution of standard operating procedures (SOP).

In response to the incident, the Deputy Coordinator of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the East Java Region, Teguh Bayu Wibowo, stated that the agency moved immediately to the SPPG site upon receiving reports. As a result, the Kalitengah SPPG operations have been temporarily suspended.

Tegu Bayu Wibowo detailed that the Kalitengah SPPG supplies approximately 2,800 portions daily to various schools and boarding schools, with about 1,000 portions allocated to the Manbaul Hikam school. Food samples have been collected by the Sidoarjo Health Office and the police for laboratory testing, with results expected within the next week.