65 Residents in Purworejo Suspected of Food Poisoning After Eating at Ruwahan Ceremony

At least 65 residents of Purworejo, Central Java, are suspected of suffering food poisoning after consuming food served at a kenduri (communal feast). Nine of them had to be rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

The suspected poisoning affected residents of Trirejo Village, Loano District, Purworejo, on Monday (16/2/2026). They had previously attended a ruwahan ceremony at the home of Boni Rohyati (63), a resident of Kedungdowo Wetan Hamlet, Trirejo Village, Loano District, Purworejo, on Sunday evening (15/2/2026).

The host had ordered food from a restaurant in Purworejo, totalling 75 portions. Of these, 65 portions were distributed to residents who attended the event.

After returning to their respective homes, some residents consumed the food that same evening, whilst others only ate it on Monday (16/2/2026) after storing it in their refrigerators.

The kenduri meal, packaged in cardboard boxes, contained white rice, tempeh orek, dried potato, quail eggs, chicken liver and gizzard, fried chicken and crackers. The snack box included grilled lemper, pukis cake, serabi pancakes and tofu omelette.

“It was a ruwahan event, a selamatan ceremony ahead of Ramadan. The host ordered food from a restaurant in Purworejo, and the food was then distributed to residents who participated in the selamatan,” said Loano Police Chief Inspector Utomo when contacted on Monday evening (16/2/2026).

Utomo explained that the residents suspected of food poisoning experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. These symptoms were reported by residents who had consumed the kenduri food from the previous evening through to Monday afternoon (16/2/2026).