JAKARTA: More than 1,000 schoolchildren in West Java province, Indonesia, fell ill this week due to food poisoning linked to school lunches, officials said. This marks another outbreak in the country’s large-scale free meal initiative led by President Prabowo Subianto.

Governor Dedi Mulyadi told Reuters on Thursday that the poisoning incidents occurred in four areas within West Java, Indonesia’s most populous province located on the island of Java. Non-governmental organizations have called for the suspension of the program over health concerns.

The recent outbreaks follow a similar event last week when 800 students in West Java and in Central Sulawesi—an island in eastern Indonesia—fell ill after eating school meals supplied through the president’s free nutritious meals program.

Oversight issues in rapid expansion
Concerns have emerged about the oversight and safety standards of the program, which has rapidly expanded to serve over 20 million recipients. The initiative aims to feed 83 million of Indonesia’s 280 million people by year-end. With a current budget of 171 trillion rupiah ($10.22 billion), the program’s funding will double next year.

Governor Mulyadi reported 470 students became sick in West Bandung, a district in West Java, on Monday, with three additional outbreaks on Wednesday affecting at least 580 children in West Bandung and the nearby Sukabumi area.

He said local hospitals were overwhelmed by the surge in patients. Mulyadi explained that kitchens responsible for preparing meals are often located far from schools and must begin cooking very early, sometimes the night before, causing food to spoil due to improper cooling.

Health emergency declared
No immediate response came from President Prabowo’s office regarding the latest incidents. The Indonesian National Nutrition Agency, which manages the free meal program, confirmed that kitchens linked to the poisoning cases have been suspended.

Footage from local broadcaster Kompas TV showed a sports hall in West Bandung converted into a temporary treatment center, with dozens of sick students lying on fold-out beds and on the floor. Ambulances were frequently seen transporting patients.

Since the program’s launch in January, at least 6,452 children nationwide have suffered food poisoning, according to the education think tank Network for Education Watch. The West Bandung district has declared a health emergency, enabling provincial authorities to allocate funds to tackle the outbreaks.

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Over 1,000 Indonesian schoolchildren sickened by food poisoning