2,000 cases of suspected food poisoning from Indonesia's free school meals

Nearly 2,000 people have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto 's flagship Free Nutritious Meals program this week.

The cases have raised fresh concerns over the food safety of the program as the government rapidly expands the multi-billion-dollar initiative nationwide, officials said on Saturday.

The incidents, reported between Tuesday and Thursday in East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi, affected about 1,950 students, teachers and Islamic boarding school pupils who became sick after consuming meals distributed under the government program, known by its Indonesian abbreviation MBG.

The outbreaks are the latest setback for Prabowo's signature free-meals program, which has been rolled out across the archipelago despite repeated food poisoning incidents and corruption allegations.

Two girls eating free school meals at a school in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 2025. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)

The largest outbreak was reported 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 program, according to Rembang Health Office head Ali Syofi'i.

In Sidoarjo, East Java, 730 people, most of them students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school, were affected in another suspected food poisoning incident linked to the program. 

Sidoarjo health office chief Lakhsmie Herawati Yuwantina said 706 victims had been discharged and were recovering at home.

Authorities also reported 276 suspected cases involving students and teachers in Agam regency, West Sumatra, where food distribution from the local nutrition service centre was 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.

Another 152 students from two junior high schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, were treated at three hospitals after developing symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

No deaths have been reported, and authorities are investigating the causes of the outbreaks.

Plagued by controversy

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

According to health ministry surveillance data as of September 2, food poisoning incidents associated with MBG have affected 50,059 people in 560 cases across 245 districts and cities in 36 provinces.

In a hearing with the House's Commission IX overseeing health issues, National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono said internal reviews found that roughly 80 to 90 per cent of previous food poisoning incidents were linked to failures to follow food safety procedures, including rules governing food storage, receipt of ingredients, temperature control and consumption deadlines.

"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 oversight of meal providers and reviewing about 27,000 meal distribution centres nationwide. 

A woman protesting against Indonesia's free school meals program outside the headquarters of the National Nutrition Agency in November 2025. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)

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

In June, the former head of the program, Dadan Hindayana, was arrested by the Attorney General's Office following an investigation into alleged corruption.

The free meals program aims to combat malnutrition and reduce childhood stunting by providing meals to nearly 90 million students, toddlers and pregnant women. 

The initiative, expected to cost about $28 billion through 2029, is a cornerstone of Prabowo's administration and one of his key campaign promises.

AP