Manokwari Health Office Tightens Monitoring Of MBG Kitchen To Prevent Toxic Cases

- - - Plt. Head of West Papua Manokwari Health Office Marten Rantetampang. BETWEEN/Ali Nur Ichsan

MANOKWARI - Manokwari Health Office, West Papua, has tightened supervision of the kitchen of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) provider after the case of food poisoning that befell dozens of students in the area.

Acting Head of the Manokwari Health Service Marten Rantetampang in Manokwari Saturday said the poisoning case occurred due to delays in the distribution of MBG, thus becoming the main factor in the development of bacteria in food.

The results of the BPOM Manokwari laboratory found that there was a menu that was not suitable for consumption because it contained bacteria. That is our evaluation material," he said.

In order to prevent similar incidents, the local Health Office emphasized the importance of regulating production, distribution and consumption times so as not to exceed the six-hour safe limit. The delay in the distribution chain is considered as the main factor in the occurrence of poisoning cases.

In addition, each MBG provider kitchen must obtain a recommendation from the Health Office before operating.

This is important so that supervision of food safety and feasibility standards can be carried out thoroughly to ensure that the food served to students is safe and fit for consumption.

"The MBG report needs to be fostered and known by the Health Office so that cases like this don't happen again," he said.

As previously reported, 13 students in Manokwari consisted of 12 elementary school students and one junior high school student were rushed to Manokwari Hospital on July 30, 2025 due to symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness after consuming the MBG menu at SMP Negeri 13 Manokwari and SD Negeri 45 Arowi.

Meanwhile, Dandim 1801/Manokwari Colonel Inf Agus Prihanto Donny emphasized that his party had given a stern warning to MBG providers who did not meet the standards.

Kodim 1801/Manokwari are parties who are mandated to supervise and control the implementation of MBG in Manokwari Regency.

Currently, there are nine healthy kitchens providing MBG in Manokwari that supply nutritious food to 99 schools, consisting of eight private kitchens and one kitchen of the Kodim Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG).

"If this happens for the third time, the kitchen can be declared ineligible and cannot operate anymore," he said.