Kupang Regent Threatens to Close Free Nutritious Meal Service Following Maggot-Infested Chicken Incident

Kupang regent Yosef Lede has threatened to shut down the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) nutrition service in Camplong following the viral spread of a video showing maggot-infested chicken served in the free nutritious meal programme (MBG).

Lede has summoned the SPPG Camplong managers for clarification. He has also issued a stern warning and assured that severe sanctions will be imposed should similar incidents occur again.

“If it happens again, we can impose sanctions to close the SPPG. It simply must not happen again. We have already summoned the managers,” said Yosef in Kupang on Friday, 27 February 2026.

The Gerindra politician emphasised that the local government has dispatched a team from the Health Department (Dinkes) to conduct on-site inspections.

“This incident happened only recently. If it happens again, it will result in quite severe sanctions,” he added.

Kupang District Health Department head Yety Ngantriyani stated that the department has dispatched a team to inspect the SPPG Camplong location. The inspection is currently ongoing.

“A team has been sent to the site and the location is clean. We do not yet know why this chicken had maggots – whether they came from the distributor already infested or during cooking process or how. We do not yet know,” said Yety over the telephone.

She explained that epidemiological investigations cannot be completed in a short timeframe and require a proper process.

“An epidemiological investigation cannot be done in one or two days. We are currently conducting field tests,” she added.