19 Students in Central Java Fall Ill After Eating MBG Meals

6 hours ago 6

Parents carry students from Garuda Primary School (SDN) who were victims of mass poisoning during the free nutritious meal program (MBG) to the emergency treatment post at 1 Cisarua Junior High School (SMPN) in West Bandung Regency, West Java, October 15, 2025. This tragedy aligns with Tiyo Ardianto's criticism that the quality of food at MBG locations is inadequate and fails to meet nutritional needs. The menu has even been proven to cause serious health problems in children. Tempo/Prima Mulia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Nineteen students at Sendangrejo State Elementary School in Ngawen District, Blora Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, suffered food poisoning after consuming meals from Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program on Monday, July 20, 2026.

The affected students were treated at the Emergency Care Unit of the Ngawen Public Health Center. All students have since recovered and returned home, according to Blora Regent Arief Rohman.

"They have all been discharged and are being monitored. No further symptoms have appeared as of today," Arief said on Tuesday, July 21.

Following the incident, the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) responsible for providing MBG meals to the school has temporarily suspended operations.

"Starting today, SPPG Bogowanti has been temporarily closed," Arief said.

The affected students included three third-graders, seven fourth-graders, eight fifth-graders, and one sixth-grader.

According to an investigation report from the Blora Health Office, the SPPG was managed by the Mitra Cendikia Waskita Foundation and had been distributing MBG meals to 2,341 recipients.

The meals served by SPPG Bogowati consisted of white rice, yellow-spiced eggs, stir-fried vegetables including beans, carrots, and corn, grapes, and packaged milk.

The health office's investigation report concluded that the food poisoning was likely linked to improperly stored milk, which may have caused contamination.

The incident adds to ongoing concerns over food safety standards in Indonesia's MBG program, a flagship initiative of President Prabowo Subianto's administration aimed at providing free meals to millions of students nationwide.

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