House of Representatives Urges Permanent Closure of MBG Kitchen Following Mass Poisoning
Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Charles Honoris, has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to permanently close the Pondok Kelapa 2 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in East Jakarta, which caused 72 students to suffer food poisoning on Thursday, 2 April 2026. According to Charles, the BGN’s sanction of temporary operational suspension is not enough to address the impact caused.
“Considering this incident concerns public safety and health, especially children as beneficiaries of the programme, we emphasise that every SPPG proven to cause food poisoning must be permanently closed and have its operational 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 so that all SPPG managers comply with food safety standards in a disciplined and consistent manner. Moreover, Charles noted, BGN findings indicate that the conditions of the Pondok Kelapa 2 kitchen, including its layout and Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL), do not meet standards.
Thus, this PDI Perjuangan politician assesses that the negligence must be paid with the heaviest sanction to serve as a warning to other SPPGs not to take public safety lightly.
“The poisoning incident in Pondok Kelapa is concrete evidence of failure in implementing food safety standards, hygiene and sanitation, as well as strict and consistent quality control,” he stated.
Furthermore, Charles encourages BGN to make permanent SPPG closures a standard for law enforcement and national oversight, not just case-specific or limited to one incident. This is to affirm that there is no tolerance for SPPGs that are negligent in maintaining hygiene and food safety in MBG menus.
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 seen as an isolated case, but as a serious alarm to evaluate the partner implementer selection and oversight system,” Charles stressed.
Next, Charles conveyed that Commission IX of the House of Representatives will push for strengthening field oversight functions of the MBG programme by involving the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) more intensively and systematically in every nutrition service unit.
He views that the preventive oversight scheme 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.