SPPG Head in Karanganyar Falls Ill After Tasting MBG Menu, Distribution Halted
Abra Yodha Raya, Head of the Nutrition Service Fulfilment Unit (SPPG) Jati in Jati Village, Jaten, Karanganyar, Central Java, felt nauseous and vomited after tasting a Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) menu. The MBG menu was consequently withdrawn from distribution.
This occurred after the SPPG received a report that the spiced chicken menu had an unusual smell on Wednesday (12/8). Abra said he initially received a report from the kitchen team about the spiced chicken emitting a suspicious odour. Upon receiving the report, he took the initiative to taste it before distribution.
“I received a report from the kitchen; the chef said, ‘Sir, please taste and smell this, I think there is something a bit off.’ The nutritionist had also tasted it and reported to me, so I stepped in,” said Abra when met at SPPG Jati, Jaten, Karanganyar, as reported by detikJateng on Thursday (13/8/2026).
Abra said ten people tasted the meal. However, only he felt nauseous and vomited.
“Yesterday I did vomit, and felt nauseous and dizzy. Those who tasted it included me, all the processing staff, and the nutritionist, so around ten people. The others were fine,” he said.
“The taste was good, because it was masked by the spices, but the aroma cannot be deceived. The aroma was indeed different, somewhat sour. On the organoleptic scale of 1 to 5, we gave it a score of 2, which is low. So because the organoleptic test did not pass, I automatically tasted it myself,” he continued.
He suspected that his nausea and dizziness were due to exhaustion after a lot of activity.
“It could be because I played football intensely in the afternoon until I was weak, then in the morning I was on duty here, and I also had a shift here. When on duty, I automatically do not sleep, so perhaps that effect could also be a factor,” he explained.
Furthermore, Abra mentioned that the menu was cooked for the second batch intended for 300 recipients. Fortunately, the menu had not yet been distributed.