MBG Food Poisoning in East Jakarta: Causes and Victim Count

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A case of food poisoning due to free nutritious meal (MBG) menu has occurred again at several elementary schools in Pulogebang Sub-District, East Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, May 8, 2026. The MBG dish distributed by the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit or SPPG Pulogebang 15 is suspected to have caused hundreds of students in the Cakung area, East Jakarta, to experience food poisoning symptoms.

Until Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Jakarta Health Office reported that there were still dozens of students being treated in hospitals. Below are the facts about the case of MBG food poisoning in East Jakarta, ranging from the cause to the number of victims.

1. Tofu Wonton Suspected as the Cause of Poisoning

The Jakarta Health Office has taken leftover samples of MBG dish to be tested in the laboratory to find the cause of the students' poisoning. Head of the Jakarta Health Office, Ani Ruspitawati, said that the laboratory test results are scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, May 12, next week.

"The suspicion of food poisoning is from the physical food, originated from the tofu wonton dish," Ani said when confirmed by Tempo via WhatsApp messages on Saturday.

Based on information gathered by Tempo, the MBG menu served by the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) Pulogebang to students on Friday, May 8, included shredded chicken noodles; crispy mushrooms; tofu wontons; slices of watermelon; and raw vegetables.

2. Number of Victims Reaches Hundreds

Ani Ruspitawati reported that, based on the reports obtained by the agency, there were 252 parents who reported. However, not all parents accessed health services.

The Jakarta Health Office recorded that 188 students accessed health services due to experiencing food poisoning symptoms. "Currently, there are still 26 students being treated in several hospitals," said Ani.

The schools affected by this case of MBG poisoning include RA Al Latifiyah, SD Negeri Cakung Timur 01, SD Negeri Ujung Menteng 02 and 03, MI Al Adawiyah, MI Al Wathoniyah, and MTs Al Adawiyah.

Tempo has sent a confirmation message regarding the suspected case of MBG poisoning in East Jakarta to the Head of the National Nutrition Body or BGN, Dadan Hindayana. However, until this report was published, the message sent via the WhatsApp messaging application has not been replied to.

3. Jakarta Health Office's Statement on SPPG Pulogebang's Sanitation Certificate

The Jakarta Health Office stated that it had conducted guidance and oversight of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) Pulogebang 15 in Cakung, East Jakarta before the poisoning case occurred.

Ani Ruspitawati said that the forms of guidance and oversight conducted by the agency include environmental health inspections (IKL), training for food handlers, and the issuance of a hygiene sanitation certificate (SLHS). "The IKL has been carried out, and currently the SPPG is in the process of improvement and providing training for food handlers," said Ani.

She continued, based on the records of the Jakarta Health Office, SPPG Pulogebang 15 has been in operation since March 31, 2026. According to the regulations of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), this SPPG is given a three-month period to have the SLHS.

On January 8, the BGN stated its intention to improve the quality of services for the year 2026, namely urging the SPPG to fulfill its obligation of owning SLHS considering the findings of E.coli bacteria in the air of several SPPG sites.

The obligation of SLHS and the consequences for the SPPG that does not meet the standard are stipulated in the Head of BGN's Decision Number 401.1 2025 concerning the Technical Guidelines for the Management of MBG in the 2026 Fiscal Year.

4. Adding to the Long List of Cases

The case of poisoning, which has led to hundreds of students being taken to health facilities, adds to the long list of issues in the implementation of the MBG project.

Based on data compiled by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network or JPPI, the total number of MBG poisoning victims from 2025 until early 2026 reached 21,254 people.

"The continued cases of poisoning prove that the MBG project is still run hastily without clear food safety standards," said the National Coordinator of JPPI, Ubaid Matraji.

Andi Adam Faturahman contributed to this writing.

Read: MBG Poisoning Again? Hundreds of Students Fall Ill in Cakung

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