October 2, 2025 | 04:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has asserted that the death of a student from State Vocational School or SMK Negeri 1 Cihampelas, West Bandung Regency, was unrelated to the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program.
"It has been explained that it has nothing to do with it," Dadan stated at the Ministry of Health building in Jakarta on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
Dadan confirmed that the BGN has not launched its own investigation into the cause of death because the victim's parents did not grant permission for an autopsy. "The parents did not allow it. They did not allow an autopsy," he reiterated.
The BGN has handed the case over to the local government. Regarding future oversight of the MBG menus, Dadan noted that these measures will be regulated in an ongoing presidential regulation.
Previous reports suggested that 121 students from the same school suffered from food poisoning after eating the government's free meal on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Rumors had spread that one student had died shortly after consuming the meal.
However, a chronology provided by the West Bandung Health Agency indicates that the deceased student, initials BR, did not die from consuming the free meal. The Agency's investigation found a gap of more than two days between BR consuming the meal and the onset of fatal symptoms.
According to the report (reference number 400.7.7.1/X.1.1/P2P), BR consumed the MBG on September 24, 2025. He ate two portions, his own and a friend’s. He went home complaining of a slight headache.
The following Monday, September 29, BR attended school but complained of a headache and left at 13:00 local time. After taking an over-the-counter tablet, he went to bed.
By 03:00 local time the next day, September 30, BR woke up experiencing nausea, vomiting five times, and shortness of breath. He was only given warm water before falling back asleep.
At 13:00 local time, BR’s sibling found him seizing, foaming at the mouth, and with a slightly swollen face. He was rushed to a local midwife, who found his blood pressure to be 60/50. Due to his pale color, seizures, and shortness of breath, the midwife called an ambulance to take him to Cililin Regional Hospital.
Despite being given oxygen, BR was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at 13:30 local time. "The patient was pronounced dead on the way," the report concluded.
Tempo is currently seeking a response from the West Bandung Health Service and investigating the victim's family's statement.
Dinda Shabrina contributed to this report.
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