Nearly 2,000 Fall Ill in Suspected Food Poisoning Linked to Indonesia’s Free Meals Programme

Nearly 2,000 people, most of them students, have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning incidents linked to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals programme this week, officials said Saturday, raising fresh concerns over food safety as the government rapidly expands the multibillion-dollar initiative nationwide.

The incidents were reported between Tuesday and Thursday across East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi. Around 1,950 students, teachers and Islamic boarding school pupils reportedly developed symptoms after consuming meals distributed under the programme, known by its Indonesian acronym MBG.

The latest outbreaks are another setback for Prabowo’s signature free meals initiative, which has faced repeated food poisoning incidents and allegations of corruption since its nationwide rollout.

The largest incident occurred in Central Java’s Rembang regency, where 752 students and 25 teachers at State Senior High School 1 Lasem suffered diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain after eating meals provided through the programme, according to Rembang Health Office head Ali Syofi’i.

In East Java’s Sidoarjo, another 730 people, most of them students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school, were affected in a suspected food poisoning outbreak. Sidoarjo health office chief Lakhsmie Herawati Yuwantina said 706 victims had been discharged and were recovering at home.

Authorities also recorded 276 suspected cases among students and teachers in Agam regency, West Sumatra. Food distribution from the local nutrition service centre has been suspended pending an investigation.

In Aceh’s Bener Meriah regency, 15 elementary school students and a school principal were treated after experiencing dizziness, nausea and other symptoms following a school meal.

Meanwhile, 152 students from two junior high schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, were treated at three hospitals after developing symptoms consistent with food poisoning. Regent Zadrak Tombeq ordered hospitals and health centres to prioritise treatment for the affected students.

No deaths have been reported in any of the incidents, while authorities are investigating the causes.

Thousands Affected Since Programme Launch

The latest cases add to a growing number of suspected food poisoning incidents linked to the MBG programme since its launch in January 2025.

Health Ministry surveillance data showed that, as of September 2, food poisoning incidents associated with MBG had affected 50,059 people across 560 cases in 245 districts and cities spanning 36 provinces.

At a hearing of the House’s Commission IX, which oversees health issues, National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono said internal reviews had found that around 80% to 90% of previous food poisoning incidents were linked to failures to follow food safety procedures.

These included improper food storage, inadequate checks when ingredients were received, failures in temperature control and violations of deadlines for meal consumption.

“The recent incidents in Sidoarjo, Agam, Rembang and other areas have been a major blow for us,” Sudaryono said.

He said the agency was tightening supervision of meal providers and reviewing around 27,000 meal distribution centres across the country.

Inspectors have identified hundreds of allegedly fictitious facilities, while at least 833 kitchens have been shut down for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation requirements.

Prabowo’s free meals programme is designed to combat malnutrition and reduce childhood stunting by providing nutritious meals to nearly 90 million students, toddlers and pregnant women.

The initiative is expected to cost around $28 billion through 2029 and remains a central pillar of Prabowo’s administration as well as one of his key campaign promises.