2,000 cases of suspected food poisoning from Indonesia's free school meals
The outbreaks are the latest setback for the program, which has been rolled out across the archipelago despite repeated food poisoning incidents and corruption allegations.
A food poisoning outbreak has affected nearly 2,000 people linked to Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program, raising concerns over food safety as the government rapidly expands the multi-billion-dollar initiative nationwide. The incidents, reported between Tuesday and Thursday in several regions, involved students, teachers, and pupils from Islamic boarding schools who became ill after consuming meals provided under the program.
The largest outbreak occurred in Central Java, where 752 students and 25 teachers fell ill with symptoms including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. In East Java, 730 people, mostly students at an Islamic boarding school, were affected, with 706 recovering at home. West Sumatra and South Sulawesi also reported suspected cases, with food distribution temporarily suspended for investigation.
No deaths have been reported, and authorities are investigating the causes of the outbreaks. Health ministry data shows that 50,059 people have been affected by food poisoning incidents associated with the program since its launch in January 2025, with internal reviews suggesting that around 80 to 90 percent of previous incidents were due to failures in following food safety procedures.
The program, aimed at combating malnutrition and reducing childhood stunting, is a cornerstone of Prabowo's administration and one of his key campaign promises.
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