More than 1,700 Indonesian students and teachers sickened this week due to free meals programme
The outbreaks prompted school closures and an investigation as officials linked the meals to improper storage and delayed delivery.
- On Thursday, 777 students and teachers in Lasem, Central Java, contracted food poisoning after consuming government-issued free meals, bringing the total number affected by the scheme to more than 1,700 in just one week.
- Authorities blamed improper food storage and late delivery for the illnesses, which followed separate outbreaks in Sidoarjo, Nganjuk, and Agam, according to lawmaker Charles Honoris, who labeled the situation a "failure of the system."
- Before distribution, a taster found some grilled chicken meals "slimy," principal Juhartutik said; while most victims recovered at home, 15 students and teachers required hospitalization.
- The National Nutrition Agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while surveys show only one-third of respondents remain satisfied with the programme, citing poisoning cases as a major reason.
- As of September 1, 50,000 individuals had been affected by food poisoning linked to the scheme, lawmaker Charles Honoris reported, underscoring systemic safety challenges threatening President Prabowo Subianto's multibillion-dollar initiative to eradicate under-nutrition.
92 Articles
92 Articles
The Nation
KahawaTunguAround 2,000 fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals
JAKARTA - Around 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have fallen ill with food poisoning over the past three days linked to the government’s free school meals programme.
More than 1 , 700 fall sick from Indonesia free school meals in 3 days
LASEM, Indonesia - Another 777 students and teachers contracted food poisoning in Indonesia's Central Java after consuming government-issued free meals, a school principal said on Thursday (Sept 3), bringing the total number of people made ill by the scheme to more than 1,700 within three days.In separate incidents in three other locations this week, 950 Indonesians had fallen ill as...
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej TodayMore than 700 fall ill in latest food poisoning linked to Indonesia’s free school meals
SEMARANG, Sept 4 — Hundreds of students and teachers in Indonesia have fallen ill after eating free school meals, their principal said yesterday, the second major food poisoning...
Around 2,000 students and teachers in Indonesia have been poisoned in the past three days by food served as part of the government's free school meals program.
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