Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP) clarified on Wednesday (4/3/2026) that the death of a student at MIN 2 Ketahun Islamic elementary school in North Bengkulu was not caused by the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. 

"Medical examinations and CT scans at Bhayangkara Hospital revealed a brain hemorrhage rather than clinical symptoms of food poisoning," Chief of Staff M. Qodari said in a press conference, emphasizing that the student collapsed before consuming the meal.

He said that the medical findings ruled out food poisoning as the cause of the tragedy.

Laboratory tests conducted by the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) on food samples also returned negative for harmful bacteria like E. coli. 

Despite this localized incident, the MBG program has reached 61.2 million beneficiaries as of March 2026. The government has temporarily suspended 47 service units for evaluation to ensure food safety standards remain the highest priority across all distribution points.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)