Nearly 2,000 people, mostly students, fell ill in suspected food poisoning incidents linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s Free Nutritious Meals program this week, raising fresh concerns over food safety as the multibillion-dollar initiative expands nationwide.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, about 1,950 students, teachers and Islamic boarding school pupils in East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi became sick after eating meals distributed under the program, known locally as MBG.
The largest outbreak occurred in Rembang, Central Java, where 752 students and 25 teachers at State Senior High School 1 Lasem suffered diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
In Sidoarjo, East Java, 730 people, mostly students at Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school, were affected. Authorities said 706 had been discharged and were recovering at home.
Other suspected cases were reported in Agam, Bener Meriah and Tana Toraja. No deaths have been reported, and investigations are underway.
Since the program began in January 2025, MBG-linked food poisoning incidents have affected 50,059 people in 560 cases across 245 districts and cities in 36 provinces, according to Health Ministry data.
Officials said most previous cases were linked to violations of food safety procedures. Authorities are now reviewing about 27,000 meal distribution centers, while at least 833 kitchens have been closed over hygiene and sanitation failures.
