Indonesia‘s School Food Poisoning Crisis deepens, Cases Surpass 16,000
Jakarta - the number of reported cases of food poisoning linked to Indonesia’s school breakfast program (MBG) has climbed to 16,109 as of October 31, 2025, according to the Indonesian Food Watch (JPPI). The surge in incidents, affecting not only students but also teachers, parents, toddlers, and pregnant women, is fueling criticism of the government’s response and raising concerns about systemic failures in food safety and program oversight.
The crisis, which began with isolated reports of student poisonings, has rapidly escalated in recent months. JPPI data shows a dramatic increase in cases: 2,226 in august, 6,052 in September, and 6,823 in October.coordinator Ubaid matraji stated on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, that the government’s evaluations and limited interventions by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) have proven insufficient to stem the outbreaks.
“The BGN’s move to partially shut down several kitchens has proven ineffective and failed to stop new outbreaks,” Matraji said. He further criticized the government for withholding audit results related to MBG kitchens allegedly connected to the poisonings, adding, “To this day, despite thousands of victims, not a single person has been held accountable.”
JPPI is demanding immediate action, calling for a temporary suspension of the MBG program and the formation of an autonomous, cross-agency investigative team-including civil society representatives-to investigate both the poisonings and alleged irregularities in program management.”The tragedy of 16,000 victims cannot be normalized. This is not a mere accident but a result of systemic failure and poor governance,” Matraji emphasized.
