Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Indonesia's Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) stated that the number of food poisoning victims from the Free Meal or MBG program continues to climb, despite the government's temporary closure of some kitchens. As of Saturday, October 4, 2025, JPPI recorded a total of 10,482 MBG poisoning cases.
JPPI Coordinator, Ubaid Matraji, reported an alarming increase of 1,833 new poisoning victims in the five-day period between September 29 and October 3, 2025. This weekly surge is higher than the previous weekly average of 1,534 victims recorded throughout September.
"With this data, we can conclude that the partial closure of the problematic Food and Nutritional Service Units (SPPG) is not effective at all," Ubaid said in a written statement on Sunday, October 5, 2025.
According to JPPI's records, the number of MBG poisoning cases has significantly increased since the government began closing down the problematic SPPGs at the end of September. The poisoning incidents have even spread to two new provinces: West Sumatra (122 children affected) and Central Kalimantan (27 children affected).
This week's highest number of cases was concentrated in:
- East Java (620 victims)
- West Java (555 victims)
- Central Java (241 victims)
- West Sumatra (122 victims)
- East Nusa Tenggara (100 victims)
In addition to the rise in victims, JPPI noted a wave of public rejection against the MBG program over the past week. Rejections have come from educational institutions and parents in areas including Tasikmalaya, Madura, Agam, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Serang, Semarang, Batu, Polewali Mandar, and Rembang.
Call for full moratorium
Based on this persistent data, Ubaid concluded that the government's strategy of only partially closing down MBG kitchens is failing to address the poisoning crisis effectively.
He urged the government to close down all MBG kitchens until the audit process and quality improvement measures are fully completed. "If not all kitchens are closed, the number of victims and the lives of children will continue to be at risk," he asserted.
Previously, a cross-ministerial meeting on September 28 resulted in the government's decision to only close SPPGs that had caused poisoning incidents, allowing units with clean records to remain operational. As a corrective measure, all SPPGs are now required to improve their service quality and kitchen cleanliness by obtaining the Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certification (HSEC).
Although a full moratorium was not issued, Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, affirmed that the government is committed to improving the management of MBG. "So that what the government provides is safe for consumption," Dadan said at the Parliament Building on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
– Ervana Trikanaputri contributed to the report.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2054603/indonesias-free-meal-poisoning-exceeds-10000-cases-reports-jpp