Elementary Student in Central Lampung Dies After Choking on MBG Longan, Police Investigate

A third-grade student at SDN 03 Poncowarno, Kalirejo District, Central Lampung Regency, identified by the initials RAP (9), died after reportedly choking on longan fruit served under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. The incident occurred on Tuesday (22/9) at around 07.40 WIB, just as classes were beginning.

The Criminal Investigation Unit chief of the Central Lampung Police, AKP M Prenanta Al Ghazali, said the victim was eating longan in the classroom while playing and running around. "While eating the longan from the MBG menu, the victim was playing and running around, then choked," he said. After choking, RAP left the classroom with a friend while holding his neck, then asked the school caretaker, Ahmad Surahman, for help. Initial efforts, including patting his back, did not work.

The school then took the victim to the principal's office and gave first aid. According to police, RAP vomited some of the food, but the longan believed to be blocking his airway did not come out. The victim was then rushed to Puskesmas Poncowarno, but because his condition worsened, he was referred to Kartini Hospital. Upon arrival at the emergency room, the medical team examined him and declared RAP dead.

Police have processed the crime scene and examined a number of witnesses to piece together the full sequence of events. However, a deeper medical investigation could not be carried out because the victim's family refused an autopsy. "The victim's family refused an autopsy on the body. So the victim was immediately handed over to the family for burial," Prenanta said. As of the publication of this news, there has been no official statement from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) or its representatives in Lampung regarding the incident.

This incident highlights the food safety aspect of the MBG program, which targets millions of students across Indonesia. Small round fruits such as longan do carry a high risk of causing choking, especially if consumed while engaging in physical activity. Child health experts often remind that elementary-school-age children remain vulnerable because their swallowing reflex and chewing ability are not yet fully mature. In the context of MBG, menu planning should take into account texture and potential hazards, not just nutritional adequacy.

In addition, this incident opens a discussion about school preparedness in handling emergencies. First-aid procedures for choking cases, such as the Heimlich maneuver, are not necessarily mastered by teachers or school staff. Basic emergency training in educational settings becomes crucial, especially when the MBG program distributes food directly to classrooms. Without adequate knowledge, the initial response can be delayed and end fatally.

From a policy standpoint, the government needs to evaluate the standard operating procedure (SOP) for food serving in MBG. Is there specific guidance on the types of fruit or food that could potentially cause choking? Has supervision from the National Nutrition Agency and related agencies been running optimally? The incident in Central Lampung is an alarm that the safety aspect of consumption must not be ignored in the pursuit of program targets.

The victim's family chose not to have the body autopsied, so the exact medical cause of death cannot be determined. Nevertheless, the sequence of events disclosed by police provides a clear picture of how the choking occurred. The public now awaits concrete steps from the government, especially BGN, to prevent a similar incident from recurring. Will a thorough evaluation be carried out, or will this incident pass without systemic improvement?