Tragedy in Indonesia - School meals trigger mass food poisoning

More than 1,000 children across Indonesia have fallen sick this week after eating free school lunches distributed under President Prabowo Subianto’s multi-billion-dollar nutritious meal scheme, the latest in a growing series of food poisoning outbreaks.

In a village about 100 km from Jakarta, a community sports hall was turned into an emergency treatment centre. Rows of makeshift beds were set up as medical workers rushed to treat hundreds of children, with at least a dozen admitted to hospitals.

“One moment the food tasted fine, but when I got home, I vomited, my stomach hurt, I had a headache and sore throat,” said one child.

A doctor at the site noted a sharp surge: “From Monday to Wednesday morning, there were 401 patients. From Wednesday to today, 687 more than 1,000 since Monday.”

Health experts blame poor food handling, long-distance transport, and rushed preparation. In some cases, meals were cooked the night before, sealed while still warm, and spoiled by the next day.

Despite the health crisis, the program funded with 171 trillion rupiah ($10.2 billion) remains central to President Prabowo’s political agenda. Launched to tackle child malnutrition and boost education attendance, critics now accuse it of being rushed and poorly monitored. Watchdog groups have also raised concerns over potential corruption, saying contracts were awarded hastily and oversight is weak.

The President’s office has yet to comment, but provincial officials have declared a health emergency in West Bandung, allowing additional funds for treatment.

While the vision of a “well-fed nation” was meant to symbolize progress, recurring poisonings have raised serious questions about whether mismanagement and lack of accountability are undermining one of Indonesia’s most ambitious welfare drives.