Sudaryono Dismisses MBG Kitchen Manager in Jayapura After Mass Food Poisoning

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has revealed the initial results of its investigation into a case of food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in Jayapura, Papua. Preliminary findings indicate the food was cooked too far in advance, causing its quality to deteriorate by the time it was consumed.

BGN Head Sudaryono stressed that the agency took firm action by suspending the kitchen manager involved. The move is intended to prevent a recurrence. “We are also checking, I have sent a WhatsApp message there for an investigation. So far, the initial investigation shows they started cooking too early. We are racing against time to ensure there must be no more poisoning, it is not allowed. I consider this fatal, so we immediately suspended and dismissed the manager,” Sudaryono said after a limited coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food in Jakarta, Thursday (6/8/2026).

Although the kitchen’s operations have been temporarily halted, Sudaryono assured that students continue to receive the benefits of the MBG programme. Food supplies have been diverted to other nearby kitchens. “If the kitchen that caused the poisoning is suspended, it does not mean the school takes a break from receiving MBG. They still receive the benefits, supplied by the nearest kitchens,” he explained.

Sudaryono disclosed that the initial investigation found the food had been prepared since 7 p.m. the previous day, even though it was only consumed around 11 a.m. the following day. “We checked yesterday in Papua, based on our system and the chronology after questioning, it was the same: they started cooking too early, at 7 p.m. the night before, and it was served at 11 a.m., so it was already spoiled when distributed,” he detailed.

Furthermore, BGN discovered that some students took the MBG meals home to eat several hours later. As a result, the food was likely no longer fit for consumption and caused family members to also suffer from food poisoning. “There was a child who took the MBG home. It should have been eaten at 11 a.m., but they took it home and ate it at 3 or 4 p.m. So it had spoiled, and not only the child but also their parents or siblings who ate it got poisoned,” Sudaryono revealed.

Consequently, BGN will tighten the operational standards for food processing and distribution. One key measure is ensuring the interval between when food is cooked and when it is consumed does not exceed the specified limit. “The bottom line is this must not happen again, including ensuring that all deliveries, from the time of cooking to consumption, comply with the standard, which is no more than 4 hours, so there is a ‘best before’ guideline,” he stated.

In addition to tightening standard operating procedures, BGN will also strengthen education in schools to ensure MBG meals are consumed immediately and not taken home. “We want to strengthen the educational aspect, where teachers who also receive MBG provide guidance. They should educate students not to take the food home. MBG contains no preservatives, so it spoils quickly if not handled properly, especially in hot areas with certain temperatures that can trigger bacterial growth,” he concluded.