TULUNGAGUNG – Concerns have emerged over the Free Nutritious Meal Program Tulungagung after parents reported moldy food in school meal packages on Friday, March 6.
Several parents in the Tulungagung urban area raised complaints on Friday morning. Their children received banana sponge cakes as part of the government’s Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program.
However, some of the cakes reportedly showed signs of mold. One complaint came from Yos Ahadre, a resident of Moyoketen Village in Boyolangu District. His child studies at a public elementary school in Tulungagung District.
Yos said he only discovered the problem after his child returned home from school around 10 a.m. The student then showed the snack given earlier that day. According to Yos, the banana cake looked moldy and unsafe to eat.
“This is reckless. Giving moldy bread to children could be dangerous,” he said.
Parents worry the food could cause health problems if students eat it. Many young children may not notice when food has gone bad. Yos added that other parents reported the same issue. Their children also received banana cakes with mold.
These complaints raise questions about food quality control in the Free Nutritious Meal Program Tulungagung.
So far, officials have not confirmed which Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) supplied the food.
Meanwhile, Sebrina Mahardika, regional coordinator of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in Tulungagung, has not responded to requests for comment. As of 2 p.m., authorities had not issued an official statement about the incident.
