JAKARTA – More than 800 students across Indonesia fell ill from mass food poisoning this week after consuming free government-sponsored school meals, with over 500 affected in West Java’s Garut region alone on September 17—the largest incident since the meal program launched under President Prabowo Subianto.
Local authorities stated that 569 students from five schools reported nausea and vomiting after eating chicken and rice, resulting in 30 hospitalisations and ongoing care for 10 children as of September 19.
A separate outbreak on the same day in Central Sulawesi’s Banggai islands caused sickness in 277 students, prompting temporary suspension of meal distribution there.
The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance notes over 4,000 reported food poisoning cases from January to August, sparking criticism of oversight as the program quickly expands toward 83 million recipients and a 171 trillion rupiah (S$13 billion) budget by year end, the budget to double in 2026.
Officials promised stricter monitoring, a switch to simpler foods, and issued apologies, emphasizing that the program will continue despite ongoing safety concerns.