Sleman, Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Chief Hasan Nasbi assured that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) will strengthen its standard procedure for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to mitigate the risk of food poisoning in schools.

During his visit here on Friday, Nasbi stated that food poisoning affecting pupils in Dukuh 03 State Primary School in Sukoharjo, Central Java, on Thursday (Jan 16) was an isolated case, and the authority has taken necessary measures to probe its cause.

"The case affected only 40 pupils, and they have received proper care. They are now happy again. We will tighten the standard operating procedure (for the MBG program)," Nasbi stated.

He remarked that the nutrition agency will evaluate the current food hygiene and cleanliness standards to ensure food safety for consumption.

The authority has also identified technical errors that may have led to food poisoning at the Sukoharjo school and has since provided safer food options for the pupils.

"The new menu is safe, and no further incidents of food poisoning occurred," the PCO head added.

On Thursday, BGN Head Dadan Hindayana affirmed that his side had identified faults in the food processing that resulted in food poisoning at the Sukoharjo primary school.

The food package received by the school comprised steamed rice, fried chicken, sautéed chicken and carrots, dragon fruit, and milk. Some children reported an unpleasant odor from the chicken served.

"The 40 pupils who received marinated chicken suffered from nausea and vomited after eating it. We have since replaced the chicken menu with eggs," Hindayana stated.

The school promptly recalled the food served to their pupils and reported the case to the local nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG) responsible for the MBG food and the Sukoharjo public health centre (puskesmas).

The Sukoharjo puskesmas head, Kunari Mahanani, later confirmed that the chicken served to the primary school pupils that caused the poisoning was improperly cooked.

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Translator: Sutarmi, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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