Government Evaluates Free Nutritious Meal Distribution Following Mass Poisoning Incidents

The government is currently evaluating the distribution pattern of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme after hundreds of schoolchildren in Sidoarjo, East Java, suffered mass food poisoning.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that this evaluation period will last for two months, as direct inspections of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG)—the MBG kitchens—showed no immediate indications of the cause of the poisoning.

“The issue is this: the kitchens are good, everything is fine, but it is a matter of culture. For example, if food is cooked and should be sent at 6:00 am, but due to waking up late, it is sent at 11:00 am, that can lead to poisoning,” said Zulhas when met after attending the Lampung Financial Festival on Saturday (5/9/2026).

“If it is cooked at 6:00 am and eaten at 11:00 am, there is a certain window of time. But if it is sent at 11:00 am and eaten at 3:00 pm? That is purely a human error, which could be due to negligence or intentional misconduct,” he asserted.

Zulhas ensured that once the evaluation is complete, and if indications of human negligence are found, the SPPG responsible for processing and distributing the MBG will face strict sanctions, as the programme involves the health of 60 million beneficiaries.

“I have demanded that there be no tolerance for negligence. Replace them! Replace them! Replace them! Whoever is involved in the SPPG, replace them! We cannot risk our children, even if only one person suffers poisoning. If they are undisciplined or negligent, replace them!” he emphasised.

He also admitted his support for legal action against those who intentionally commit errors leading to the poisoning of schoolchildren via the MBG programme. “We will see the nature of the error; if it was intentional, then they will face the law.”