Teen remains under medical care weeks after mass poisoning linked to government meals.
A mass food poisoning incident in North Sumatra has taken a troubling turn, with one teenage victim reportedly experiencing seizures, speech difficulties, and memory problems weeks after hundreds of students became ill.
16-Year-Old Suffers Seizures and Memory Problems
A 16-year-old student in Karo regency, North Sumatra, identified as Febiona Purba, has reportedly experienced seizures, difficulty speaking, and memory problems after falling ill during a mass food poisoning incident linked to Indonesia’s Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program. Her mother, Elvinus Lusiana, said the teenager had been treated at five hospitals and examined by pediatric gastroenterology, neurology, and psychiatry specialists but had shown little improvement several weeks after the incident. Hospital officials said her condition was stable and further examinations were continuing.
Hundreds Fell Ill After August 13 Meal
Febiona was among 353 students reported to have fallen ill in Karo on August 13 after consuming government-provided meals after eating government-provided meals that included rice, cabbage and carrots, melon, and fish curry. Symptoms among students included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, itching, and breathing difficulties. Elvinus said her daughter initially felt dizzy and itchy after eating the fish before vomiting and later losing consciousness.
Laboratory Tests Find Multiple Bacteria
An investigation found food-safety problems in samples from the meal. Laboratory testing detected Bacillus cereus in rice, Staphylococcus aureus in mackerel tuna, and Escherichia coli in melon. National Nutrition Agency head Sudaryono previously said improper fish storage was linked to the Karo outbreak, with hundreds of pieces reportedly left unrefrigerated for about 12 hours. The agency subsequently suspended the responsible kitchen and dismissed its head.
Family Still Seeking Medical Answers
Febiona was initially hospitalized for three days, but her family said she later suffered seizures and began having difficulty recognizing relatives and school friends. She experienced another seizure on September 5 and was undergoing further assessment, including an electroencephalogram, or EEG. RSUP H. Adam Malik in Medan said doctors were still conducting examinations and had not issued a final medical explanation for her symptoms, while a regional nutrition agency official disputed claims that she had amnesia and said her EEG result was normal.
MBG Safety Crisis Draws Wider Scrutiny
The case comes amid growing scrutiny of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meal program. Nearly 2,000 children and adults were reported sick in separate MBG-related incidents across several provinces between September 1 and 3, while lawmaker Charles Honoris, citing health department data, said nearly 50,000 students had been affected by food poisoning linked to the program by early September. Komnas HAM has called for transparent investigations, while the government has temporarily suspended nearly 2,000 kitchens that failed to register for mandatory hygiene checks.
The Karo case underscores the consequences food-safety failures can have when meals are distributed to children on a national scale. For Indonesians, the incident increases pressure on authorities to strengthen kitchen certification, storage controls, medical follow-up, and accountability across the MBG program. Singaporeans and other regional observers may also see the case as an important lesson in managing large public nutrition programs where rapid expansion must be matched by consistent safety standards.
Sources: Asia News Network (2026) , The Jakarta Post (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia MBG Poisoning, Free Nutritious Meals, Karo Food Poisoning, Student Seizures, MBG Food Safety, North Sumatra
