Dozens of Students Suspected of Food Poisoning from MBG Meals in Bogor, DPRD Calls for Full Investigation

Bogor City DPRD Building (doc VOI)

BOGOR - The Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) has returned to the spotlight after dozens of students from SDN 2 and 3 Batutulis, SD Lawanggintung, and PUI schools in Bogor City experienced food poisoning, Friday, November 14. The students are said to have started to feel dizzy, nauseous, and vomit after eating the MBG menu produced by the SPPG La Isola kitchen in Batutuli at around 09.30 WIB.

Based on reports from the Balekambang Health Center and the Bogor City Health Office, the chicken menu consumed is thought to have an unpleasant aroma and an immature part. Of the 36 students who came to health facilities, most experienced complaints of nausea, dizziness, and vomiting, while three students were still undergoing treatment.

Responding to the incident, a member of the Bogor City DPRD for the South Bogor electoral district, Dedi Mulyono, expressed his deep concern and asked the Bogor City Government to conduct a thorough investigation.

"This is a serious incident and should not be taken lightly. The MBG program was created to improve children's nutrition, not even a source of mass poisoning. The government must go down quickly and transparently," said Dedi, in his statement, Monday, November 17.

Dedi assessed that the suspicion of underprivileged chickens showed weak quality control in the SPPG kitchen. He emphasized that incidents like this should not be repeated.

If there are SPPGs that are negligent, they must be temporarily stopped. All MBG kitchens must tighten the standards for cleanliness and cooking processes. Children are not experimental materials," he said.

He also highlighted the fact that of the 55 SPPGs operating in Bogor City, only 5 have a Sanitation Higiene Certificate (SLHS).

This is a loud alarm. Hygiene certification is the main requirement, not a complement. The city government must immediately bring order to all SPPGs in order to fulfill the SLHS. Don't wait for the next victim," said Dedi.

The Bogor City DPRD, he continued, will oversee the investigation process and encourage laboratory results to be immediately published. He asked the Health Office and the PUPR Office to tighten supervision of the MBG production chain, starting from the receipt of materials, processing, to distribution to schools.

The MBG program is good and very much needed. But its implementation must be safe, professional, and according to standards. There should no longer be food that passes without strict checks," he concluded.