Indonesia’s Free School Meals Program Sickens Over 6,400 Children Amid Rapid Expansion

Indonesia's flagship free school meals program, launched by President Prabowo Subianto to combat child malnutrition, is facing severe criticism after thousands of children fell ill from food poisoning linked to the meals. Over 6,400 cases of food poisoning have been reported, with symptoms including breathing difficulties, nausea, and diarrhea, leading to dozens of kitchens being suspended for poor hygiene and food safety issues. Despite the health crisis, President Prabowo has defended the program, emphasizing the low percentage of affected meals and ordering mandatory food testing to improve safety. Families and non-profit groups are calling for the program's suspension and suggest replacing it with cash assistance, citing consistent quality problems such as stale and foul-smelling meals. The government has allocated a substantial budget for the program and plans additional funding for safety and logistics, but concerns remain about operational training and raw material quality. The program's rapid expansion from 1,000 to over 9,600 kitchens serving more than 31 million people has revealed systemic weaknesses, sparking widespread public alarm and demands for reform.