National Nutrition Agency Closes MBG Kitchen After 49 MTs Students Poisoned in Cilegon

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stated that it evaluated the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Cilegon, which caused 49 students from MTs Al Inayah to suffer food poisoning. The SPPG, or kitchen for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, has been closed. “Yes, it has been closed. Following the incident, we immediately closed it and evaluated everything from the layout to the business processes,” said Dadang Hendrayudha, Deputy for Monitoring and Supervision at BGN RI, in Serang City, Banten, on Wednesday (22/4/2026). According to Dadang, BGN requires SPPG to provide food samples daily for inspection. If something occurs, the food will be tested and examined. “The most important thing is that samples are provided every day. If anything happens, these samples are sent to the laboratory to check if it truly originated from the served food or otherwise,” he said. He also instructed that SPPG must not cook before 2 a.m. This is to avoid serving stale menus. “I have conveyed to the Governors and Local Governments, especially the task forces, that no more kitchens should cook before 2 a.m. Everything starts from 2 a.m. and is divided into three stages. The hope is that the processes are correct, the kitchens are proper, and everything is hygienic until it reaches the children,” he said. Previously, 49 students from MTs Al Inayah in Cilegon were rushed to community health centres suspected of food poisoning from the MBG programme. Police are investigating the incident. Cilegon Police Chief AKBP Martua Raja Silitonga said the suspected food poisoning from one of the SPPG kitchens in Cibeber occurred on Thursday (16/4). Martua stated that his team had visited several health centres handling the poisoned students. “When we checked from the information in the data from several health centres, there were approximately 49, I think 49 people,” said Martua in Cilegon on Friday (17/4). The symptoms suffered by the dozens of students varied, with some experiencing nausea and others dizziness. According to police, the students are currently under medical care. “What we must inventory for each person is what their symptoms are because there are symptoms of repeated nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms,” he said.