More than 1,000 children in Indonesia have been struck by suspected food poisoning linked to the government’s free school lunch programme, authorities confirmed this week — the latest in a troubling series of mass outbreaks tied to President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiative.
Between Monday and Wednesday alone, 1,258 cases were recorded in West Java’s Cipongkor district, according to local health officials. The incident follows similar outbreaks last week in West Java and Central Sulawesi, where around 800 students were affected.
President Prabowo has made the ambitious scheme — which aims to provide free, nutritious meals to 80 million schoolchildren nationwide — a cornerstone of his leadership. But a surge in food safety lapses has triggered mounting criticism, with NGOs urging authorities to suspend the programme until health risks are addressed.
The government, however, insists it will press ahead. “There are no plans to stop it,” said Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar on Wednesday.
Victims in the latest outbreak reported stomach cramps, dizziness, nausea — and, unusually, shortness of breath, which doctors say is not a typical symptom of food poisoning.
Meals served included soy sauce chicken, fried tofu, vegetables, and fruit. Previous poisoning cases have been traced to expired condiments and, in one instance, improperly prepared fried shark.
Officials acknowledged lapses in food handling. Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), said last week’s outbreak in Cipongkor was caused by a “technical error” by the local Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), which has since been suspended.
Declaring the situation an “extraordinary event,” West Bandung regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail said emergency measures were being rolled out to speed up medical response and ensure comprehensive handling of the crisis.
Despite government assurances, public pressure is growing for stronger oversight of the multi-billion-dollar programme, which has quickly become one of the most controversial tests of Prabowo’s administration.
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