ZOAHARIAN.COM The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is facing the spotlight again. Throughout August to early September 2026, a number of cases of suspected food poisoning were reported in various regions in Indonesia.

The victims did not only come from school students. Students and teachers were also affected. In a number of incidents, the number of beneficiaries experiencing health problems even reached hundreds in one location.

This series of cases occurred in various regions, starting from North Sumatra, Central Java, East Java, West Sumatra, Aceh to South Sulawesi.

The large number of victims has made the issue of food safety in the implementation of MBG a serious concern again.

Karo Records 389 Victims in One Incident

One case with a fairly large number of victims occurred in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ombudsman Representative for North Sumatra, throughout 2026 there have been four MBG poisoning incidents with a total of around 700 victims.

This figure has increased sharply compared to 2025, which recorded one incident with 107 victims.

In August 2026, one incident in Karo Regency was recorded involving 389 victims. Of this number, 142 people underwent inpatient treatment, 52 people underwent outpatient treatment, 175 people were allowed to go home, while two patients were referred.

108 Solo Students Suspected of Poisoning

Another case emerged in Solo, Central Java.

A total of 108 students of SDII Al Abidin Solo were reported to experience symptoms suspected to be related to the food they consumed.

In the early stages, the direct link between these foods and the MBG program is still being examined. The regional government then supervises the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) which supplies food.

This case also shows that the appearance of symptoms after someone consumes food does not automatically prove that the food is the cause. Epidemiological and laboratory examinations are still needed to determine the source of the disease.

Early September, Cases Appeared Simultaneously

Entering September 2026, case reports will appear again in a number of areas.

In Nganjuk, East Java, 49 students of SMAN 3 Nganjuk were reported to be experiencing symptoms thought to be related to MBG food. A teacher is also said to be among the victims receiving treatment.

The case with a larger number of victims occurred in Sidoarjo.

On September 2, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stated that SPPG Talang Angin in Kali Tengah, Sidoarjo, was temporarily closed after 512 students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School were reported to be affected.

A day later, the number of victims was reported to have increased to 664 people. Investigations to determine the cause of the incident are still underway.

Hundreds of Students and Teachers in Rembang Also Affected

In Rembang Regency, Central Java, cases were also reported at SMA Negeri 1 Lasem.

A total of 752 students and 25 teachers experienced symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach ache after consuming MBG food.

The total reported victims reached 777 people.

Meanwhile, in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, as many as 276 students and teachers were reported to have experienced suspected poisoning. Food distribution from the relevant nutrition service center was then temporarily stopped for inspection purposes.

A similar case also occurred in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. A total of 152 students from two junior high schools had to receive treatment at three hospitals after experiencing symptoms thought to be related to food poisoning.

In Bener Meriah, Aceh, 16 people were also reported to be affected, consisting of 15 students and a school principal.

Nearly 2,000 People Affected in a Matter of Days

If the events in early September are combined, the scale becomes even greater.

Data quoted by the Associated Press states that around 1,950 students, teachers and santri in a number of areas experienced symptoms of suspected poisoning after consuming MBG food between Tuesday and Thursday in early September.

These cases are spread across East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi.

No deaths were reported in the series of incidents. However, the causes of each case still require investigation.

E. coli and procedural violations are in the spotlight

This is not the first time the issue of food safety has arisen in the implementation of MBG.

In the case in Semarang, Central Java, hundreds of SMK Negeri 6 students reported experiencing health problems after consuming MBG food. The results of laboratory examinations on a number of food samples consumed identified the bacteria Escherichia coli or E. coli.

Meanwhile, Head of BGN Sudaryono in a meeting with Commission IX of the DPR said that around 80-90 percent of previous poisoning cases were related to non-compliance with food safety procedures.

These issues include storing food ingredients, receiving ingredients, controlling temperature and consuming time limits.

This means that food safety issues are not always related to a particular menu.

Risks can arise from the time the raw materials are received, then stored, cooked, packaged, transported until finally consumed by the beneficiary.

The larger the MBG distribution scale, the more points that must be monitored.

BGN Evaluates Tens of Thousands of Kitchens

This series of cases prompted the government to tighten supervision of SPPG or MBG food supply kitchens.

BGN is said to have carried out an evaluation of around 27,000 food distribution centers. Based on data quoted by AP, at least 833 kitchens have been closed due to hygiene and sanitation issues.

Local governments are also starting to prepare additional steps.

In Malang Regency, for example, the local government has prepared around 1,000 test food kits to help tighten the inspection of food before it is consumed by beneficiaries.

This step shows that food safety is one of the biggest challenges as the MBG program continues to expand.

Not Just Counting the Number of Victims

The cases that occurred from August to September 2026 show that the MBG problem is not just about how much food is distributed.

The very large scale of the program means that the food safety system must be able to keep up with the scale of distribution.

Each SPPG has different conditions, starting from the quality of raw materials, kitchen facilities, human resources, distribution distance to food storage systems.

Therefore, the mere existence of standard operating procedures or SOPs is not enough.

SOPs must be strictly implemented and monitored. The system must also be able to spot potential violations before the food reaches the beneficiaries.

Ministry of Health surveillance data quoted in early September showed that since the MBG program started in January 2025, 50,059 people were recorded as affected in 560 incidents in 245 districts/cities in 36 provinces.

This number does not mean that all incidents have the same cause. Each case must still go through an investigation to find out the source and cause.

However, the large number of incidents and the large number of beneficiaries make food safety an inseparable part of the success of the MBG program.

Because the main goal of the program is to provide nutritious food.

And nutritious food must ultimately meet one of the most basic requirements: safe to consume

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