Nearly 2,000 Indonesians Fall Ill After Free School Meals
Around two thousand students and teachers have become sick over the last 72 hours, after having eaten food supplied through the nation’s multi‑billion‑dollar free meal scheme.
In Rembang, Central Java, 777 people reported symptoms after lunch at a local high school. The same day, 752 pupils and 25 teachers in Lasem took ill at the same programme’s feed, and the following day 730 students at a boarding school in Sidoarjo came down with nausea and stomach issues.
The meals are part of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) plan launched by President Prabowo Subianto to improve nutrition for schoolchildren. However, the programme has been under criticism for expense and alleged corruption, and the recent outbreaks have intensified scrutiny.
In Lasem, the school opened almost one‑and‑a‑half thousand doors, sending about 1,200 students and 95 staff members home, with several needing hospital treatment. The local food distributor came to the school, acknowledging responsibility, while the government has promised to cover all medical costs.
In Sidoarjo, a teenage pupil said the meal made the child feel dizzy and nauseous before full stomach aches caused transport to a hospital by wheelchair. Other pupils required medical attention, and teachers reported that what appeared to be undercooked chicken and slimy portions had been served.
Similar incidents have surfaced in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, with hundreds experiencing symptoms after MBG meals. Investigations are underway and food samples are being tested for contamination.
The head of the food distribution unit in Lasem apologised and pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of operations. The director of the National Nutrition Agency has demanded that those found negligent or criminally involved be held to account.
