More than 1,000 children in Indonesia’s West Java province have been hospitalized this week after consuming free school lunches, officials said Thursday, in the latest setback to President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme.
The outbreaks were reported in four areas of West Java, according to Governor Dedi Mulyadi, who confirmed that at least 470 students in West Bandung fell sick on Monday, followed by three more mass cases on Wednesday in West Bandung and Sukabumi, affecting another 580 children.
Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the sudden surge in patients, prompting authorities to convert a sports hall into a makeshift treatment center. Footage aired by Kompas TV showed students receiving care on fold-out beds and even on the floor as ambulances rushed in more patients.
The free nutritious meals initiative, launched in January, aims to reach 83 million Indonesians by the end of the year, backed by a budget of 171 trillion rupiah ($10.22 billion), set to double in 2026.
However, the rapid scale-up has raised concerns over food safety and oversight. Civil society groups have urged the government to temporarily suspend the programme until stricter standards are enforced.
Governor Mulyadi attributed the contamination to poor handling, saying kitchens were tasked with feeding too many students, sometimes preparing meals the night before.
“When the food was still warm, it was immediately put on the tray and the tray was closed, making it spoiled, stale,” he explained.
Since the programme’s launch, at least 6,452 children nationwide have suffered food poisoning, according to the Network for Education Watch. The provincial government has now declared a health emergency in West Bandung, enabling the release of extra funds to address the crisis.
The National Nutrition Agency said kitchens linked to the latest cases have been suspended, while President Prabowo’s office has yet to comment on the unfolding situation.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
