Free Nutritious Meal Task Force Supports Suspension of Malaimsimsa Service Unit for Evaluation
Sorong (ANTARA) - The Free Nutritious Meal Task Force (Satgas MBG) of Southwest Papua Province supports the temporary suspension of operations at the Malaimsimsa Klabulu Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Sorong City to undergo an evaluation, following reports of digestive disturbances among beneficiaries.
The Head of the Southwest Papua MBG Task Force, Ahmad Nausrau, stated in Sorong on Friday that the decision for temporary suspension is an official measure by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) that must be respected and implemented by the SPPG management.
“The letter from the BGN is valid and must be carried out. We will not tolerate SPPGs that violate regulations, especially when it concerns the safety of beneficiaries,” he said.
SPPG Malaimsimsa Klabulu, identified by SPPG ID 9100601, is managed by the Dharma Wanita Foundation of the Muhammadiyah University of Sorong. The unit began operations on 17 February 2025.
Ahmad noted that the temporary suspension is part of an evaluation process to ensure all food safety regulations and MBG implementation standards are met before the SPPG resumes operations.
In the BGN letter, he added that the temporary suspension of operations was established as a medium-level sanction, involving the suspension of all operational rights for a maximum of 20 calendar days from the date the letter was issued.
According to him, during the suspension period, the Head of the SPPG, along with foundation representatives, is required to rectify issues that could potentially compromise food safety and the safety of beneficiaries.
Furthermore, progress regarding these mandatory improvements must be reported to the Head of the SPPG every seven calendar days throughout the suspension period.
Ahmad emphasised that the evaluation must be conducted thoroughly and transparently, covering everything from food processing and storage to distribution.
His office will also continue to ensure that the condition of beneficiaries who experienced digestive issues is closely monitored alongside relevant parties.
“Investigations into the cause of the incident are still ongoing to identify the source of the problem and prevent similar occurrences. The safety of beneficiaries is our top priority,” he said.
He urged all SPPG managers in Southwest Papua to increase supervision regarding the implementation of food safety standards to ensure the quality of food distributed to beneficiaries remains guaranteed.
Previously, 26 students and five teachers from SMP Muhammadiyah Al-Amin experienced symptoms of dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhoea after consuming MBG meals on 17 September 2026.
Of the 26 students, only eight required further treatment at the Sele Be Solu Hospital after in-depth observation by medical teams. The remaining 18 students received medication at school and were permitted to return home.
The Head of the Sorong City MBG Task Force, Ruddy Laku, stated that the inspection of SPPG Malaimsimsa includes equipment, food ingredients, processing methods, and the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP).
According to the person in charge of SPPG Malaimsimsa, the unit manages approximately 3,000 MBG portions distributed to 10 schools.
Of the 10 recipient schools, nine others were reported to have not experienced health symptoms similar to those faced by the students and teachers of SMP Muhammadiyah Al-Amin.
“Food samples from SPPG Malaimsimsa will be sent to a laboratory in Makassar for testing, so that the cause of the incident can be confirmed based on the laboratory results,” he said.