Students in Central Lombok Find Worms in Free Nutritious Meal Menu; SPPG Responds

Students in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), discovered worms in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) menu distributed by the local Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG). The worms were seen moving within the meal containers.

The incident occurred at the SDN-SMPN Satu Atap Repok Sintung Barat, located in Karang Sidemen Village, North Batukliang District, Central Lombok. Based on circulating video footage, a teacher is seen pointing out worms in an MBG container as they moved towards other parts of the meal.

The worms are suspected to have originated from the long beans. In addition to the long beans, the MBG menu intended for the students included rice, ‘ayam plecing’ (spicy chicken), sautéed corn, fried soybeans, and longan fruit.

According to the teacher in the video, worms were also found in several other MBMA meal containers. As a result, dozens of meal sets were withheld from being distributed to the students.

The Head of the Karang Sidemen SPPG, Johan Sastra Irawan, acknowledged the incident. Johan stated that the SPPG staff were not sufficiently thorough in inspecting the food ingredients before they were processed and distributed.

“We have no defence for this. Indeed, our volunteers were not careful enough. Regarding this matter, we have resolved it immediately and the food was not consumed,” Johan said in a statement to detikBali on Monday (14/09/2026).

Johan ensured that the food containing worms was not consumed by the beneficiaries. He noted that worms were found in five meal containers and the matter has been followed up by the local police.

“The local police have since stepped in to assist,” he added.

Johan stated that the Karang Sidemen SPPG would use this incident as a basis for evaluation, particularly in improving supervision across all stages of the MBG menu provision, from preparation to the point where food is ready for distribution to beneficiaries.