566 Indonesian students ill from free meal program

Thairath•International•11d ago

Reader Briefing

Over 500 students in East Java, Indonesia, were treated for suspected food poisoning after consuming meals from a government free nutrition program.

•566 students from 19 educational institutions in Sidoarjo, East Java, were affected on September 1.
•The illness is linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
•As of September 2, 88 affected students remained hospitalized.
•The food provider, SPPG Kalitengah, noted that prepared meals can only be stored at room temperature for 4 hours.

•On September 1, 566 students in Sidoarjo, East Java, were taken for treatment after suspected food poisoning from the MBG program.
•As of September 2, 88 out of the 566 affected students from 19 educational institutions remained in the hospital.
•Rafli Ridho of SPPG Kalitengah stated that meals prepared by the kitchen have a storage limit of approximately 4 hours at room temperature.
•Police have collected food samples for investigation, and the National Nutrition Agency is examining if the meals caused the illness.
•Emil Elestiento Dardak confirmed that the SPPG Kalitengah kitchen holds a Sanitary and Hygiene Standard Certificate (SLHS) and Halal certification.
•The MBG program is a key policy of President Prabowo Subianto starting in 2025 to combat malnutrition.
•Network for Education Watch reported approximately 37,600 food poisoning cases linked to the MBG program up to August 8.
•Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting found in July that only about one-third of the population is satisfied with the free meal program.

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East Java(จังหวัดชวาตะวันออก)ℹ️

A province in Indonesia where the food poisoning incident occurred.

Sidoarjo(อำเภอซิโดอาร์โจ)ℹ️

A district in East Java where the affected students are located.

Free Nutritious Meal (MBG)(อาหารมีคุณค่าทางโภชนาการฟรี)

A government program to provide free meals to millions of children to solve malnutrition.

Manbaul Hikam Boarding School(โรงเรียนประจำมันบาอุล ฮิกัม)

A boarding school in Putat Village, Tanggulangin District, where many affected students study.

SPPG Kalitengah(หน่วยบริการเติมเต็มโภชนาการ กาลิเตงะห์)

The food provider for the affected area that holds hygiene and Halal certifications.

National Nutrition Agency(สำนักงานโภชนาการแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The agency responsible for overseeing the MBG program.

Network for Education Watch

A civil society watchdog group that monitors food poisoning cases linked to the MBG program.

Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting(สถาบัน Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting)

An institute that conducted a survey on public satisfaction with the free meal program.

Rafli Ridho(ราฟลี ริดโฮ)

Head of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) Kalitengah.

Emil Elestiento Dardak(เอมิล เอลีสเตียนโต ดาร์ดัก)

Deputy Governor of East Java and Chairman of the provincial MBG program working group.

Prabowo Subianto(ปราโบโว ซูเบียนโต)ℹ️

The President of Indonesia who initiated the MBG policy.