Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta -The findings of the Indonesian National Nutrition Agency's (BGN) independent investigation identifying nitrite contamination as the cause of food poisoning in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in West Bandung Regency have raised new questions.
Health expert Tjandra Yoga Aditama urged the government to provide a detailed explanation regarding the source of contamination and discrepancies in laboratory results.
"This information is essential to prevent similar incidents in the future, both in the same region and as a lesson for other areas," Tjandra said in a written statement on Monday, October 6, 2025.
The BGN investigation team found excessive levels of nitrite in leftover samples of melon and vegetable salad served in the MBG program.
The nitrite concentrations were recorded at 3.91 and 3.54 mg/L, far exceeding safety limits.
For comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) caps nitrite levels in drinking water at 1 mg/L, while Canadian health authorities set a maximum limit of 3 mg/L.
"Everyone agrees that high nitrite levels can cause health problems," said Tjandra, who previously served as Director of Communicable Diseases at the WHO Southeast Asia office. "However, the investigation team should also explain how such high levels of nitrite ended up in the food."
He noted that investigators should have examined the entire food supply chain – from ingredient sourcing and distribution to meal preparation at the Food Service Supply Unit (SPPG).
A clear explanation of the contamination point, he added, is vital to dispel speculation and prevent a repeat of the incident.
Aside from the nitrite issue, Tjandra also highlighted inconsistencies between laboratory findings. The BGN team did not detect pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or Bacillus cereus.
However, the West Java Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda Jabar) earlier reported the presence of Salmonella and Bacillus cereus in its samples.
"This difference is worth examining," Tjandra said. "The samples or testing methods may have differed, but the public deserves a clear explanation so the root cause is properly understood."
He stressed that clarity on both contamination sources and testing procedures is critical to evaluating the MBG program's safety. "This is not merely a technical lab issue. It's about maintaining public trust in the safety of government food programs," he said.
The food poisoning outbreak linked to the MBG program in West Bandung has persisted since September 24, 2025, affecting thousands of students across multiple schools. Several other regions have since declared food poisoning outbreaks related to the same program.