JAKARTA: Hundreds of students nationwide have reported suspected food poisoning after eating meals distributed under the free nutritious meal programme, dealing a fresh blow to the initiative as its new leadership pledges tighter safety measures following a series of controversies.
In Sukabumi, West Java, 39 students at SDN Bojongkoneng State Elementary School reported symptoms of food poisoning on Tuesday (July 28) after consuming meals distributed under the government programme.
The students complained of nausea, dizziness and severe stomach pain, with one student requiring emergency treatment at a local hospital. Tatang Koswara, head of the Surveillance at the Sukabumi Health Agency, said that symptoms began appearing shortly after students had finished eating.
“The meals arrived at 8.3am and were consumed at 9am. The first reported case of food poisoning occurred at 9.am,” Tatang said on Wednesday as quoted by Detik.com. The meal package served that day consisted of savoury rice, sweet-and-sour eggs, stir-fried carrots and corn, longan fruit, and milk.
A subsequent inspection found that some of the milk distributed to students had passed its expiration date in June.
The Sukabumi Health Agency, in coordination with police, has launched an investigation into the kitchen responsible for preparing the meals and questioned its staff.
Authorities have also collected food samples for laboratory testing to determine the cause of the illnesses.
In Pesawaran regency, Lampung, 33 students and a teacher at SDN 22 Tegineneng State Elementary School fell ill after consuming meals distributed under the Free Meals Programme on July 24.
The students reported symptoms including nausea, vomiting and headaches after receiving meal packages containing green bean porridge, white bread, boiled eggs and fruit soup.
The incident occurred just days after eight students at SMPN 1 Talangpadang State Junior High School in neighbouring Tanggamus Regency experienced nausea, vomiting, dizziness and diarrhoea after consuming government-provided meals consisting of rice, fried tofu, butter sauce chicken, stir-fried green beans and corn, and oranges on July 22.
Fitra Alfarisi, head of the administrative division at the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Office (KPPG), which oversees free meals kitchens across Lampung, said the agency had begun investigating the food poisoning incidents and suspended operations of two kitchens preparing the meals.
“Based on our initial investigation, we found indications that both kitchens had violated several standard operating procedures,” Fitra said on Sunday, as quoted by Kompas.id.
In Kediri, East Java, 211 students from SMPN 1 Kras State Junior High School and SDN 1 Purwodadi State Elementary School fell ill after consuming stir-fried carrots, fried tofu, boiled eggs and green grapes provided under the government’s Free Meals Program on July 23.
Kediri Health Agency head Ahmad Khotib said his office, along with relevant agencies, was investigating the incident and collecting data to determine the cause of the students’ illnesses.
“We are still in the process of collecting data and information. We hope all free meal kitchens maintain proper operational standards to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” Khotib said.
President Prabowo Subianto launched the Free Meals Programme on Jan 6, 2025, as one of his flagship initiatives aimed at addressing Indonesia’s persistent stunting problem.
Since its launch, however, the programme has faced a series of food safety incidents.
The Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI) reported that more than 33,600 students had allegedly suffered food poisoning between the programme’s launch and April this year. Scrutiny of the programme intensified on June 3 after the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) arrested former National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana and two of his deputies, Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, over alleged corruption.
Prosecutors alleged that the officials had interfered in the verification process for approving free meal kitchens that did not meet required standards and had inflated procurement costs for various programme items.
Amid declining public confidence in the programme, newly appointed BGN head Sudaryono has launched a sweeping governance overhaul, shutting nearly 900 kitchens out of 28,000 nationwide and dismissing hundreds of employees.
The closures were linked to alleged violations ranging from poor hygiene and failure to meet operational standards to inadequate wastewater treatment facilities.
Under Sudaryono’s leadership, the agency has dismissed 261 employees, including 224 non-civil servant workers and 37 experts, over alleged disciplinary violations ranging from online gambling and misconduct to suspected acceptance of gratuities.
On Wednesday, Sudaryono met with ministers overseeing food, health and education affairs and pledged that the agency would improve transparency, including by developing a system that would allow parents to monitor meal menus. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
