Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said all poisoning reports should be directed through the ministry’s hotline at 119 or +62 877-7759-1097 for real-time response.
He cited the latest reports received on October 4 via the hotline, involving incidents in Soe, East Nusa Tenggara, and Jakarta.
“In both cases, there were no fatalities. The children have received treatment,” Budi told reporters on Monday.
Previously, MBG-related poisoning cases often surfaced first on social media, delaying official response. Now, reports are integrated with local health offices to enable faster verification and action, he said.
“If a case is reported online, we can immediately cross-check it with data submitted by the health offices,” he added.
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Budi emphasized the importance of local health offices in supporting improvements led by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which is still developing its regional infrastructure.
“BGN will audit the affected nutrition fulfillment units (SPPGs) with the health offices to strengthen procedures and governance,” he said.
As of Monday, 130 SPPGs had obtained Hygiene and Sanitation Certification (SLHS), the minister noted.
The government has also tightened safety standards for MBG kitchens, requiring SLHS, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification, and halal compliance to prevent mass poisoning incidents.
Local health offices are working to secure the certifications, while coordination among the Health Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, BGN, regional governments, and the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry has been reinforced.
Between January and September 2025, the BGN recorded 70 poisoning incidents affecting 5,914 program beneficiaries.
Authorities said they are pursuing several preventive measures, including stricter certification enforcement, regular case reporting, and new regulations to enhance food safety and program governance.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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