Over 800 Students Sickened in Mass Food Poisoning Cases Linked to Indonesia‘s School Meal Program
Jakarta, Indonesia – Mass food poisoning incidents stemming from Indonesia’s national school meal program have sickened over 800 students across multiple regions this week, prompting a government apology and raising serious concerns about program oversight. The latest outbreak, affecting 277 students in the Banggai Islands, Central Sulawesi, occurred on Wednesday, leading to a temporary halt in meal distribution in the area, according to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
The program, designed to combat malnutrition and improve school attendance, has rapidly expanded to serve over 20 million recipients with an aspiring target of reaching 83 million by the end of 2025. The recent wave of illnesses-following earlier reported cases-casts a shadow over the initiative, which boasts a Rp 171 trillion (US$10.32 billion) budget and is slated for a doubling of funding in the coming year. The incidents underscore critical questions regarding food safety standards and the effectiveness of monitoring procedures within the large-scale program.
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi issued a statement on Friday acknowledging the “re-occurrence of cases in several areas,” and offered an apology,stating the outbreaks were “not what we had hoped for or intentional.” The BGN is currently investigating the causes of the poisonings and working to ensure the safety of meals provided to students. Meal distribution has been paused in affected areas while investigations proceed.