BGN Evaluates MBG Menu in Tulungagung After Student Poisoning Case

ILLUSTRATION DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) evaluated the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in Tulungagung, East Java following the alleged poisoning experienced by 24 students of SD Negeri 3 Bungur.

The coordinator of the BGN for the Tulungagung Region, Sebrina Mahardika, said that samples of food from the Bungur Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) had been secured for laboratory testing by the local Health Office.

"We are still waiting for the results of laboratory tests to confirm the source of the symptoms experienced by students," said Sebrina as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 12.

The menu served during the incident, among others, white rice, chicken suwir, tofu, peanut oseng, and dates.

Based on initial observations and school party statements, the chicken suwir was suspected to be the cause, because it smelled and was slimy when students ate it.

However, BGN emphasized that the allegations were still awaiting the certainty of the laboratory test results.

Sebrina explained that BGN had previously released a list of menus that were not recommended in the MBG program, because they were at risk of rapidly losing nutritional quality after being cooked.

The menu, among others, fried rice, yellow rice, uduk rice, soto, bihun noodles, capcay, tofu vegetables, and chicken suwir.

"There are several menus that are the attention of BGN so that they are not used because the risk of reducing the quality of the food is relatively fast, so it is prone to causing food safety problems," he said.

The suspected poisoning at SD Negeri 3 Bungur is part of a series of similar cases that have occurred in five schools in Tulungagung, namely SMK Negeri 3 Boyolangu, SMK Sore Tulungagung, SMK Negeri 2 Boyolangu, MAN 2 Tulungagung, and SD Negeri 3 Bungur.

So far, four SPPG kitchens have been temporarily suspended for operation to undergo monitoring and direct supervision by BGN.

The four kitchens also have not obtained the Certificate of Hygiene Sanitation (SLHS), so they are asked to make improvements according to food safety standards.

"This case is a serious concern so that the implementation of the MBG program really meets food safety, sanitation, and nutritional quality standards for the safety of students," said Sebrina.