《TodayAsiaNews Jakarta》– Indonesia’s Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has called for a full evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program after several student food poisoning incidents across the country.

KSP Chief Muhammad Qodari emphasized the need to strengthen both the mechanisms and institutional framework to ensure student safety.

“This is a wake-up call. Improvements must be made quickly, especially for remote areas where response efforts are weaker than in urban settings,” he said.

The most recent case occurred on September 18 in Garut, West Java, affecting 569 students.

Qodari stressed a zero-tolerance approach to hygiene failures, no matter how minor, and highlighted concerns for students in remote regions with limited healthcare access.

State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi has apologized and said the government has launched recovery efforts and a full program review.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has tightened hygiene standards in MBG kitchens to aim for zero future incidents.