Bengkulu Police Handles MBG Toxic Case With Victim 427 Students

The Bengkulu Police Chief Inspector General Mardiono and his entourage asked the manager of the Free Nutrition Food Kitchen (MBG) in the Lebong Regency area, Thursday (28/8/2025). BETWEEN/Nur Muhamad

JAKARTA - The Bengkulu Regional Police (Polda) are still handling cases of suspected mass poisoning after consuming the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) menu in Lebong Regency (27/8).

Bengkulu Police Chief Inspector General Mardiono said that currently the main focus of his party was the handling of patients first, considering the number of victims was more than 400 people.

"After this, we will conduct an investigation starting from the kitchen, how to present it to the distribution of food," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 28.

He explained that after the incident a number of food samples suspected of being the cause of poisoning had been brought for examination by the Bengkulu Province BPOM.

The manager of the MBG kitchen is undergoing intensive examinations by the ranks of the Lebong Police and the Bengkulu Police.

Head of Loka POM Rejang Lebong Pupa Feshirawan during an examination of the condition of the MBG kitchen in Limaupit Village, Lebong Sakti District, explained that the condition of the MBG kitchen in the area had met the standard.

However, it is still open and not neat, so it is possible to be contaminated with bacteria and others.

"They have their own SOP, after we saw that the kitchen flow was still a cross-contamination of the incoming raw materials. We found that there were still rooms that had not been closed, such as places to eat that had not been given nets, then the guests had not been given PPE, if all the employees had used them," said Pupa.

The samples of food residue consumed by the students have been sent by the Lebong Health Office and also from the Lebong Police to the Bengkulu Provincial POM Center laboratory.

Bengkulu Police handled a case of alleged MBG poisoning in Lebong

Some of the food samples sent for examination include dumpling noodles that give flour to make it durable, meatballs, tofu and vegetables.

The case of mass poisoning after consuming the MBG menu in Lebong Regency received special attention from the Bengkulu Provincial Government, where Deputy Governor Mian and the Bengkulu Police Chief Inspector General Pol Mardiono visited his victims at the Lebong Hospital, and reviewed the condition of the MBG kitchen in the area.

Meanwhile, as of Thursday afternoon, 427 students have experienced this mass poisoning, even four of them are teachers. This number is estimated to continue to grow because it is still coming to Lebong Hospital.