Indonesia Faces Over 6,000 Food Poisoning Cases from Free Meal Program

Indonesia's free nutritious meal program, launched by President Prabowo Subianto to combat malnutrition, has faced serious challenges after a series of food poisoning outbreaks affected thousands of beneficiaries, mainly schoolchildren. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) reported around 5,900 cases, while local NGOs estimate over 6,400 victims, with symptoms ranging from nausea to severe stomach pain and respiratory problems. In response, the government has deployed nutrition experts to improve oversight and hygiene across meal preparation units and agreed to shut down problematic service units while evaluating cooks' quality and sanitation processes. Health and food safety officials acknowledged that many incidents resulted from failures to follow standard operating procedures and inadequate supervision, with various bacterial contaminants such as E. coli and salmonella identified. The government has pledged to cover medical costs for affected children and called for active monitoring by ministries, local governments, and the public to prevent future outbreaks. Despite the program's initial promise as a flagship social welfare initiative, these issues have sparked calls for suspension and raised concerns about execution and food safety standards.