Indonesia’s large-scale free school lunch program, a central pledge of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, has recently been marred by numerous food poisoning incidents, raising significant public health concerns. This week, over 1,200 children in West Java and Central Sulawesi fell ill after consuming meals provided through the program, which aims to feed 80 million students nationwide.
Despite these alarming events, the government has stated there are no plans to halt the program. However, non-governmental organizations are calling for its suspension to allow for a thorough evaluation of safety protocols. Symptoms reported by affected children included stomach aches, dizziness, nausea, and in some cases, shortness of breath. Past incidents have been attributed to issues such as expired ingredients and improper food preparation, with this week’s meals reportedly containing soy sauce chicken, fried tofu, vegetables, and fruit.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) indicated that a ‘technical error’ by the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) was the cause of the recent mass poisoning in Cipongkor, leading to the suspension of their operations in the area. Local authorities have declared the situation an ‘extraordinary event’ to expedite response efforts.
The program’s substantial cost, estimated at over $10 billion this year, has also drawn criticism, with experts warning of potential corruption risks given the scale of the budget. While supporters argue the funding is secured in the state budget, the recurring food safety issues and high expenditure have intensified scrutiny on the program’s implementation and effectiveness.