Cause of Food Poisoning Among Students Following Free Nutritious Meal Programme in Sidoarjo

The Deputy for Monitoring and Supervision of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Ketut Sumedana, has revealed the cause behind the food poisoning of hundreds of students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, East Java, after consuming Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).

Ketut claimed there was negligence regarding the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for MBG distribution, which resulted in the food becoming spoiled. “This is due to a lack of discipline in the SPPG (Nutrition Service Fulfilment Unit) and distribution. The procedure should ensure that the loading process is completed within 4 hours from cooking to distribution. However, in the field, it took more than 4 hours,” Ketut stated, as reported by detikcom on Thursday (3/9).

“That is what caused the poisoning, because these MBG meals do not use preservatives. Therefore, they spoil easily, and bacteria can develop rapidly,” he continued.

Ketut noted that the BGN has established monitoring regulations to be conducted twice daily. Under these rules, inspections must take place at 5:00 PM when ingredients arrive and at 2:00 AM during the cooking process.

“Every day, twice a day, we conduct MBG readiness checks, starting at 2:00 AM and then at 5:00 PM. Those are crucial times for ingredient selection; 5:00 PM is when they arrive, and cooking begins at 2:00 AM,” he said.

Despite these regulations, Ketut stated that many officers and heads of the Nutrition Service Fulfilment Units (SPPG) have failed to comply. Additionally, some schools have failed to distribute the MBG meals on time.

“The reality is that in several areas, these individuals—the heads of SPPG, including the PICs, and even some schools—are not distributing the MBG within the established time limits,” he added.

Previously, hundreds of students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, were suspected of food poisoning after consuming the MBG menu. The BGN reported that the number of affected students reached 512.

Currently, 80 students remain hospitalised, while 312 others have been discharged and have recovered.

Ketut stated that the BGN has conducted an investigation in collaboration with the relevant health office. Consequently, the SPPG involved has been suspended under a heavy category.

“We have also imposed a heavy-category suspension for 30 days against the SPPG in Sidoarjo, Talang Angin,” he concluded.