DPR Member Urges Permanent Closure of SPPG Following Mass Poisoning
Deputy Chair of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Charles Honoris has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to permanently close the Pondok Kelapa 2 Nutritional Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in East Jakarta, which caused 72 students to suffer poisoning on Thursday, 2 April 2026. According to Charles, the BGN’s sanction of temporarily halting kitchen operations is insufficient to address the impact caused.
“Given that this incident concerns public safety and health, particularly for children as beneficiaries of the programme, we assert that any SPPG proven to cause food poisoning must be permanently closed and have its operating permit revoked, without exception,” said Charles Honoris in a written statement on Monday, 6 April 2026.
Permanent closure, he said, is a form of moral accountability as well as a deterrent instrument to ensure all SPPG managers comply with food safety standards in a disciplined and consistent manner. Moreover, Charles noted that BGN findings indicated that the conditions of the Pondok Kelapa 2 kitchen, including its layout and Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL), did not meet standards.
Thus, this PDI Perjuangan politician assessed that such negligence must be paid for with the heaviest sanctions to serve as a warning to other SPPGs not to take public safety lightly.
“This poisoning incident in Pondok Kelapa is clear evidence of failure in implementing food safety standards, hygiene and sanitation, as well as strict and consistent quality control,” he stated.
Furthermore, Charles encouraged BGN to make permanent SPPG closures a standard for law enforcement and national oversight, rather than merely case-specific or limited to one incident. This is to affirm that there is no tolerance for SPPGs that are negligent in maintaining menu hygiene and safety for school meals (MBG).
He also requested that BGN immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of the entire supply chain, from raw material procurement, production processes, to food distribution, and ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP) at all MBG points.
“This incident must not be viewed as an isolated case, but as a serious alarm to evaluate the partner executor selection and oversight system,” Charles stressed.
Additionally, Charles conveyed that Commission IX of the DPR will push for strengthening field oversight functions of the MBG programme by involving the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) more intensively and systematically at every nutrition service unit.
He views that preventive oversight schemes must be tightened so that MBG can truly provide nutritional benefits, rather than posing health risks. “The state cannot just wait for action only after victims have fallen,” said Charles.