Mass Food Poisoning at RSUD Dr Soetomo: 178 Victims, Rendang Suspected as Culprit

As many as 178 people were reported to have suffered food poisoning after eating boxed rice meals during a pre-education (Pradik) event for the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS) at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga (FK Unair), held at RSUD Dr Soetomo, Surabaya, on Monday (28/9). The victims consisted of prospective specialist doctors and hospital cleaning staff. The incident drew attention because it involved a leading medical education institution and raised concerns about food safety standards at large-scale events.

The Head of the Education and Training Division (Kabag Diklat) at RSUD Dr Soetomo, dr Astindari, described the chronology of the incident. The boxed meals arrived at the Integrated Diagnostic Center Building (GPDT) on the 2nd floor at around 09.00 WIB, then were moved to the 7th floor where the event took place at 09.15 WIB. The food began to be arranged on tables in the GPDT hall half an hour later, and was only distributed to participants at 11.30 WIB during the break. Symptoms of poisoning appeared within 30 minutes to 4 hours after consumption.

The Director of RSUD Dr Soetomo, Prof Dr Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa, stated that the cause of the poisoning was temporarily suspected to come from the rendang beef dish. The suspicion was reinforced by reports that vegetarian participants who only consumed eggs, vegetables, and pickles did not experience symptoms. "We cannot be certain before there are laboratory results. This is still a suspicion," she said during a press conference on Tuesday (29/9).

Although the suspicion points to rendang, the hospital has not received detailed reports on the condition of the food, such as unpleasant odors or signs of spoilage. "There were no specific reports from participants, only that those who ate eggs and vegetables were safe," Cita added. She emphasized that the final conclusion would await laboratory test results on food remnants and patient specimens.

"We have sent samples to Puslabfor, Labkesmas, and BPOM. However, we cannot be certain at this time, we are waiting for laboratory results," Cita said.

This incident is not only a health issue, but also highlights weak supervision of the food supply chain in institutional activities. As a leading teaching hospital in East Java, RSUD Dr Soetomo should have strict protocols for the provision of mass catering. This incident could affect the institution's reputation and public trust in the organization of similar events in the future.

From a policy perspective, this case urgently calls for a comprehensive evaluation of food safety standards in medical education and hospital environments. Regulations on the provision of catering food for official events need to be strengthened, including mandatory hygiene certification and periodic testing. BPOM and local health agencies are expected not only to handle this case reactively, but also to conduct preventive supervision.

For the public, this incident serves as a reminder of the risk of food poisoning that can occur anywhere, including in health institutions. It is important for consumers to be more critical of the quality of food served at public events. Meanwhile, for event organizers, transparency in selecting catering vendors and ensuring food safety is non-negotiable.

Going forward, laboratory results will determine whether rendang was truly the main cause or whether there were other factors. Regardless, this case demands systemic improvements in the management of mass catering, especially in higher education institutions and hospitals. Will there be sanctions or procedural changes? The public awaits concrete steps from the authorities.