Hundreds of Students Poisoned by Free Nutritious Meal Programme, East Java Deputy Governor Denies Fatalities

A total of 431 students from the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, East Java, are suspected of suffering food poisoning after consuming Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) on Tuesday (1/9). The students are currently receiving treatment across eight referral hospitals.

The Deputy Governor of East Java and Chairman of the East Java MBG Task Force, Emil Elestianto Dardak, has refuted circulating reports regarding fatalities resulting from this mass poisoning event. “Please note, there were reports of deaths, but that is incorrect. No one has died,” he stated while inspecting victims at RSUD RT Notopuro, Sidoarjo, on Wednesday (2/8).

He revealed that similar symptoms were reported not only by students from the Manbaul Hikam boarding school but also by students from several other schools that receive meals from the same MBG provider. “Data shows that in addition to the Manbaul Hikam boarding school, there are other schools experiencing complaints. The common factor is the consumption of food from the same SPPG, specifically SPPG Tanggulangin Kalitengah,” he said.

Emil praised the rapid response of various parties in managing the hundreds of students admitted to hospitals. He noted that a total of 19 educational institutions were affected by this incident, including high schools, junior high schools, primary schools, and kindergartens, all located within the Tanggulangin District, Sidoarjo.

Emil disclosed that the SPPG Tanggulangin Kalitengah had actually obtained a Hygiene Sanitation Suitability Certificate (SLHS) prior to the incident. “We are investigating this. Assessment records show that the facilities and infrastructure are adequate. Many staff members have also undergone food handler certification, and halal certification has been obtained,” he added.

However, he noted that such certification does not fully guarantee that problems will not occur, as the SLHS only assesses the general system and infrastructure. He added that deviations could still occur during other stages, such as the quality of ingredients or the timing of implementation relative to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Meanwhile, the Deputy Coordinator of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the East Java Region, Teguh Bayu Wibowo, confirmed that the SPPG Kalitengah Tanggulangin kitchen, which supplies the meals, has been temporarily suspended by the central BGN following the incident. “For now, a letter has been issued from the central BGN to temporarily suspend operations,” he said.

Regarding the duration of this suspension, Teguh stated that the final decision awaits the results of evaluations and laboratory sample tests. “We are currently reporting to the central office; they will decide whether the suspension is temporary or permanent,” he concluded.

Previously, a student named SZ (15) reported consuming the MBG lunch, which consisted of white rice, scrambled eggs, tempeh in Balinese seasoning, sautéed green beans and baby corn, and an apple. She noted something unusual about the meal, particularly the vegetables, which tasted sour. By late afternoon, she experienced nausea, weakness, and dizziness.

The caretaker of the Manbaul Hikam boarding school, KH Abdul Wahid Harun, stated that the school has approximately 1,000 students, all of whom consumed the MBG on the day of the incident. “There are about 1,000 students. Today, 431 were evacuated to the hospital. Each student’s physical condition varies,” Wahid said in the early hours of Wednesday (2/9).

Wahid emphasised that the incident was unexpected by the boarding school. He also confirmed that the trigger for the mass poisoning was the food processed by the Kalitengah Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, rather than food prepared by the boarding school itself.