Hundreds of SMKN 3 Boyolangu Tulungagung Students Suffer from Diarrhea Allegedly from MBG Poisoning

Hundreds of students at SMK Negeri 3 Boyolangu, Tulungagung, East Java, are reported to have diarrhea, allegedly after eating the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) menu distributed at the school the day before.

As a result of the incident, the school authorities sent all students home early to get medical treatment.

Deputy Head of SMKN 3 Boyolangu for Student Affairs Yuga Hermawan said that the health disorder was first detected on Tuesday morning, after a number of students were late for class and complained of diarrhea.

"Initially, there were several students who were late for class and were taken to the school room. After being questioned, they complained of diarrhea and had to queue up in the toilet," said Yuga as reported by ANTARA, Selas,a January 20.

Similar complaints were later made by other students who came to the School Health Unit (UKS) to ask for medicine.

Based on the temporary data collection, a total of 123 students at SMKN 3 Boyolangu experienced diarrhea with the same symptoms.

Yuga said the students suspected that the health disorder was related to the MBG menu consumed on Monday morning. Diarrhea symptoms began to be felt about 12 hours after the food was consumed.

"The MBG menu is consumed by students around 08.00 WIB and complaints of diarrhea began to appear around 20.00 WIB. Meanwhile, teachers who consume MBG during the day only feel the symptoms in the early morning," he said.

Around 80 percent of students and educators at the school complained of similar conditions, including himself.

The school then coordinated with the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) of the South Moyoketen Rawa Pearl Foundation as the MBG provider. As a precautionary measure, the MBG provider withdrew all the menus that had been distributed that day.

The school also decided to send students home early so that those who are sick can immediately receive treatment at a health facility.

"Currently we are still conducting data collection and coordinating with the school principal regarding the possibility of students undergoing medical treatment," said Yuga.