Riau Islands to evaluate Indonesia's free meals programme after glass shards found in students’ food

FILE PHOTO: This picture taken on June 23, 2025 shows elementary schoolchildren eating food prepared by the government's free meal programme at a classroom in Jakarta. The Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI) recorded some 8,649 kids had experienced poisoning. The Health Ministry, meanwhile, recorded over 5,200 victims as of mid-September. - AFP

JAKARTA: Riau Islands health authorities will conduct a thorough evaluation of the province’s free nutritious meal programme after multiple food poisoning incidents and the alarming discovery of shards of glass in government-provided meals.

Deputy Governor Nyanyang Haris Pratamura said authorities are currently investigating the incidents and plan to suspend the programme in affected schools until the investigation is complete.