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Indonesia's Free Meals: Nearly 2,000 Students Sick
25 Feb
Summary
- Nearly 2,000 Indonesian students suffered food poisoning this year from free meals.
- Recent outbreaks occurred in Jambi, East Nusa Tenggara, and Central Java.
- Program launched in January 2025 aims to combat stunting but faces safety issues.
Indonesia's ambitious free nutritious meal program, launched in January 2025 to combat stunting, has been overshadowed by numerous food poisoning incidents affecting students. As of February 25, 2026, nearly 2,000 students have fallen ill from contaminated meals this year alone. Recent outbreaks include a Jan 30 incident in Muaro Jambi Regency where 145 students became sick, and another on Feb 2 in West Manggarai Regency impacting 134 students, some of whom reported spoiled vegetables.
Another significant event on Jan 28 affected approximately 540 students and teachers in Kudus, Central Java. In response, the head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, apologized and suspended operations at implicated Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units. Investigations are underway, with one unit set to receive a 'yellow card' for serious violations, including food outsourcing. The agency plans to review menus to enhance food safety and prevent future occurrences.
