August 14, 2025 | 12:03 pm
The Foundation of the Indonesian Consumer Agency (YLKI) is urging the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to tighten supervision over the meal equipment due to recurring cases of food poisoning in the free nutritious meal project (MBG). "Starting from its container, kitchen sanitation, equipment, and cookware," said Chairperson of YLKI Niti Emilia in an open discussion at Best Western Hotel, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
She stated that the supervision of MBG partners should not only focus on suspected food ingredients causing poisoning, as the food tray can also trigger poisoning.
In the Partner Guide for SPPG Development documents, it is required that the food tray be made of stainless steel (SUS) 304. However, Niti suspects that most MBG partners do not have the competence to check or determine the authenticity and quality of the trays used.
She also questioned the implementation of Indonesia's National Standards (SNI) certificate for tableware, which is still voluntary. Basically, this label will be a guarantee of consumer safety in using a product. "In the future, hopefully SNI will become mandatory," said Niti.
According to her, if the poisoning comes from the food, MBG beneficiaries can detect it from the taste or smell of the dishes served. "But if the food is fine, suddenly getting poisoned becomes a question that needs to be investigated," she said.
Niti also reminded that a case of food poisoning is already included in the category of extraordinary events (KLB). "Because one case of food poisoning can directly cause death and can spread widely."
A case of mass poisoning allegedly caused by consuming the MBG program's food has occurred again. This time the poisoning incident was experienced by a number of students and teachers in Gemolong District, Sragen Regency, Central Java.
Based on information gathered by Tempo on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the mass poisoning case was experienced by several students and teachers at State Elementary School 4 Gemolong and State Junior High School 3 Gemolong.
Head of Gemolong Community Health Center Agus Pranoto Budi confirmed the incident. Agus mentioned that based on preliminary data as of Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the number of people feeling poisoning symptoms was 196, including students, teachers, school employees, and family members who also consumed the food. "Preliminary data shows that 196 people experienced poisoning symptoms. There are students, teachers, employees, or family members who consumed the food brought home," said Agus to journalists.
Agus said the victims experienced symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea, suspected after eating from the MBG program distributed by the Independent Partner Kitchen SPPG Mandiri Gemolong on August 11, 2025. After receiving reports of the incident, the Gemolong Community Health Center team immediately visited the victims for examination.
The suspected MBG poisoning case is not the only one. Most recently, a similar case occurred in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. A total of 140 students from SMPN 8 Kupang were suspected of poisoning after consuming free nutritious meals.
Those who suffered health problems such as diarrhea and vomiting were treated at three nearby hospitals, namely RSUD SK Lerik, RSU Mamami, and RS Siloam, on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025. The day before, they consumed the MBG menu. From the food sample tests, Streptococcus sp bacteria were found in the meat.
Septia Ryanthie contributed to the writing of this article.
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