DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

BGN chief calls Sidoarjo MBG poisoning a case of ‘deliberate negligence’

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono described the mass food-poisoning incident at a boarding school in Sidoarjo as “deliberate negligence.”
  • He said meals cooked at 5 a.m. should have been eaten before 9 a.m., but incorrect labels and delayed delivery meant students ate them after noon.
  • Sudaryono said officials could face dismissal and legal action if investigators find negligence and criminal elements; 566 students and pupils from 19 institutions were affected.

National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono has labeled the mass poisoning of students in Sidoarjo “deliberate negligence,” repeating the accusation in a statement posted on Instagram.

“This is deliberate negligence. I repeat, this is deliberate negligence,” Sudaryono said. He argued that officials had already received the rules, technical instructions and procedures needed to handle the free nutritious meals, but failed to follow them.

This is deliberate negligence. I repeat, this is deliberate negligence. The rules, technical instructions and procedures had already been provided, but you were negligent in carrying them out.

· SudaryonoThe National Nutrition Agency chief blamed officials for failing to follow food safety procedures.

Sudaryono said the consequences could extend beyond removal from office. “Not only removed, not only fired. If negligence and criminal elements are identified, I’m sorry, we cannot help,” he said, warning that suspected criminal conduct could lead to legal proceedings.

He attributed the incident at Manbaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Tanggul Angin, Sidoarjo, to failures in labeling and delivery. The nutrition expert and the relevant food service unit reportedly labeled only one of the many meal containers distributed to recipients. Labels were supposed to include information such as the time the food was cooked.

According to Sudaryono, the food was actually cooked at 5 a.m. and should have been eaten before 9 a.m. The label instead reportedly stated that it had been cooked at 8 a.m. and should be consumed by 10 a.m. In practice, containers meant to be eaten before 10 a.m. reached schools after 11 a.m., possibly at 11:30 or 11:40, and students ate them after noon. Sudaryono said the delay led to the mass poisoning.

Not only removed, not only fired. If negligence and criminal elements are identified, I’m sorry, we cannot help.

· SudaryonoHe warned that officials could face legal action as well as dismissal.

He ordered all nutrition service units to follow the official procedures, label every container and enter the data accurately. He also apologized as head of the agency for the negligence and the resulting illness.

Rafli Ridho, head of the Kalitengah Tanggulangin nutrition service unit, had earlier apologized for the incident. He said he regretted that 566 students at Manbaul Hikam and pupils at 19 other educational institutions became ill after eating meals prepared by his unit.

Please forgive me, I regret it.

· Rafli RidhoThe head of the food service unit apologized for the incident affecting hundreds of students.
About this summary

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog