Nearly 2,000 fall ill in suspected food poisoning linked to Indonesia’s free school meals program

Nearly 2,000 people, primarily students, fell ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program between Tuesday and Thursday. Incidents were reported across East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh, and South Sulawesi, affecting approximately 1,950 individuals with symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. These outbreaks represent a significant setback for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship initiative, which aims to combat malnutrition. Investigations into previous incidents revealed that 80-90% were due to failures in food safety procedures. Authorities are tightening oversight of meal providers and reviewing distribution centers, with hundreds of fictitious facilities found and many kitchens shut down for hygiene violations. The program, a cornerstone of Prabowo's administration, is intended to provide meals to nearly 90 million students, toddlers, and pregnant women.

Around 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have fallen ill with suspected food poisoning over the past three days, linked to the government's free school meals program. Incidents have occurred in Central Java, East Java, and South Sulawesi, with hundreds affected in each location. Symptoms reported include diarrhea, dizziness, and nausea, with some individuals requiring hospitalization. The meals are part of President Prabowo Subianto's multibillion-dollar initiative to improve child nutrition. Authorities are investigating the cause of the outbreaks, with food samples being tested for contamination. Local food distributors have apologized and taken responsibility for the affected individuals.

Over 1,700 Indonesians have fallen ill from food poisoning linked to the government's free meal program within the past week. In Central Java, 777 students and teachers became sick after consuming these meals, with one school reporting 752 students and 25 teachers suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. Separately, 950 individuals in three other locations also fell ill due to the program. President Prabowo Subianto initiated the program last year to improve child nutrition, but it has faced issues including allegations of corruption and outbreaks of food poisoning. In one incident in Lasem, Central Java, a food taster noted some grilled chicken was "slimy" before distribution, though it was reportedly cooked hours earlier.