56 students at MAN Model Singkawang get sick after eating MBG

Singkawang, Thekabarnews.com—At least 56 students at MAN Model Singkawang in West Kalimantan reportedly became sick after eating meals from Indonesia’s Free Meals Program (MBG) on Friday, February 6, 2026.

The Singkawang’s Local Health Office (Dinkes) said that between 25 and 31 students needed medical care at several hospitals, community health centers (Puskesmas), and clinics in Singkawang. As a result, the event has brought up new worries about the safety of the food served in the MBG.

Head of the Singkawang’s Local Health and Family Planning Office, Dr. Achmad Hardin, said that authorities started getting reports on Thursday night, February 5. He said that the students got to the hospitals almost at the same time.

“Most of them came in about the same time,” Dr. Achmad said.

As soon as they got there, medical teams took care of the sick students. Initial tests showed that some students needed more observation. Therefore, some of them were sent to local hospitals for inpatient care.

As a result, Dinkes sent out a team of investigators to gather food samples and other relevant items. Officials will look at the results to see how to improve procedures and stop similar events from happening again.

Dr. Achmad stressed that authorities have not yet confirmed food poisoning as the cause, even though the situation is serious. Only 56 of the 906 students at MAN Model Singkawang said they had symptoms.

“Every student has a different body type. Some people have more sensitive stomachs than others. Reactions can be different, and we are still waiting for lab results to find out what caused them,” he added. 

While medical teams monitor the students’ recovery, officials advised parents to maintain their composure. Officials called the incident an unfortunate event that will help them improve oversight and quality control in the MBG program.

The goal of the MBG is to improve the nutrition of students all over the country. However, incidents such as these underscore the criticality of closely monitoring food safety. This helps ensure the program’s long-term viability and public trust.