West Java, Indonesia — September 25:
In a deeply concerning development, more than 1,000 schoolchildren in West Java have fallen ill from food poisoning linked to school-provided meals — marking one of the most severe incidents yet under Indonesia’s ambitious free meal programme spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto.
The outbreaks were reported across four different areas in the province this week, with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi confirming that at least 470 students became sick in West Bandung on Monday, followed by another 580 affected in separate incidents on Wednesday in the same region and Sukabumi.
This comes just days after 800 students in West Java and Central Sulawesi also suffered from foodborne illnesses last week — raising alarms about the standards, hygiene, and monitoring of a programme that aims to provide nutritious meals to over 83 million citizens by the end of the year.
Despite its noble intentions and a massive budget of 171 trillion rupiah (RM43 billion) — set to double in 2026 — the programme now faces serious scrutiny. Local and international NGOs are urging an immediate suspension until safety protocols are thoroughly reviewed and improved.
Hospitals Overwhelmed, Emergency Declared
Local hospitals, particularly in West Bandung, are struggling to cope. With small facilities overwhelmed, a makeshift treatment centre was set up in a sports hall, Kompas TV reported, showing heartbreaking scenes of young students lying in pain on the floor or makeshift beds, awaiting treatment.
According to Network for Education Watch, at least 6,452 children nationwide have already been affected by food poisoning since the programme’s launch in January.
Governor Mulyadi blamed structural issues in the supply chain: overburdened kitchens serving too many students, located far from schools, and food being prepared too early, sometimes the night before. In some cases, warm food was sealed immediately, accelerating spoilage before it even reached the students.
“We must urgently evaluate the entire implementation process,” Mulyadi said. “And most importantly, we must help children recover — not just physically, but emotionally — from this trauma.”
The West Bandung region has now been placed under health emergency status, enabling the provincial government to reallocate funds to manage the crisis.
As of now, President Prabowo’s office has not issued a statement, but Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency, confirmed that all implicated kitchens have been temporarily suspended.
