Indonesian officials say government-supplied meals tested after more than 500 students fall ill

Over 500 students in Indonesia's East Java province were hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning from state-supplied meals, according to regional officials on September 2nd. The government's ambitious free-meals scheme, launched by President Prabowo Subianto last year, aims to eradicate under-nutrition by providing free meals to tens of millions of children.

However, the program has faced controversies including food poisoning, corruption allegations, leadership changes, and a high cost that has increased the national fiscal deficit.

As of August 8th, the Network for Education Watch, a non-governmental watchdog, reported 37,600 cases of food poisoning linked to the scheme. In East Java's Sidoarjo region, 516 students were treated in hospitals, with most discharged. The National Nutrition Agency, responsible for overseeing the free-meals program, is investigating the cause of the illness, with police having taken samples from the meals as part of the investigation.

Improper food storage and late delivery of cooked meals are often cited as reasons for food poisoning, authorities have stated. Recent reforms have shut down hundreds of kitchens due to violations of quality standards. The National Nutrition Agency has undergone several leadership changes, including one forced by the arrest of its head in June on corruption allegations, and the government has reduced the scope of the scheme.