Prabowo Highlights Cases Of 40 Elementary School Students In Sukoharjo Poisoning Free Nutritious Foods, Appreciation For Fast Handling

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Prof. Dadan Hindayana/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

JAKARTA - Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Prof. Dadan Hindayana said President Prabowo Subianto appreciated the quick handling of incidents related to free nutritious food (MBG) at an elementary school in Sukoharjo, Central Java.

In a meeting discussing the acceleration and evaluation of MBG at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday, the President told ministers and heads of institutions that such incidents could occur.

BGN also emphasized that each Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) works according to established standard operating procedures (SOP), including to deal with food poisoning incidents, which were allegedly experienced by elementary school children in Sukoharjo this week.

"The incident in Sukoharjo only lasted for a moment, and (local SPPG) immediately changed the menu which was not good, so the President appreciated it for it, and he considered this to be something that could happen," said the Head of BGN as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, January 17.

Dadan again emphasized that in the implementation of free nutritious meals, there are three factors that are of concern, namely the fulfillment of calories according to the stages of development of beneficiaries, nutritional composition, and aspects of hygienic/food safety.

"This has been our concern from the start so that this program cannot be carried out freely by anyone, and there must be employees who respond quickly and react quickly," continued the Head of BGN.

Dadan again explained that the incident in Sukoharjo was purely a technical error, and it was not intentional. He said that shortly after there were children who showed symptoms of nausea and vomiting, the local SPPG officers immediately pulled the food they circulated. The number is 2,400 portions withdrawn.

"Immediately withdrawn, replaced with eggs. Then, the 40 children were immediately treated by the puskesmas officers and have recovered, and today they are already in school again, and provided with food services, and accompanied by puskesmas officers, eating at school and normal. So there is no problem," said Dadan Hindayana.

A total of 40 children from SDN Dukuh 03 Sukoharjo nauseated and vomited after eating a nutritious menu, Thursday (16/1). The menu that was suspected of having problems at that time was fried chicken which is believed to be undercooked.

Shortly after the incident, the menus that were circulated were immediately withdrawn, and the children received a new menu in the form of eggs.