Nearly 2,000 people, primarily students, have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning incidents linked to Indonesia's flagship Free Nutritious Meals program this week. The outbreaks, which occurred between Tuesday and Thursday across five provinces, have prompted renewed scrutiny of food safety standards as the government rapidly expands the costly initiative nationwide.
Officials reported that approximately 1,950 students, teachers, and pupils from Islamic boarding schools became sick after consuming meals distributed under the program, known by its Indonesian acronym MBG. The incidents have been reported in East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh, and South Sulawesi.
The largest outbreak occurred in Rembang regency, Central Java, where 752 students and 25 teachers at State Senior High School 1 Lasem experienced symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. In Sidoarjo, East Java, 730 individuals, mostly students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school, were affected. Health officials in Sidoarjo stated that 706 victims had been discharged and were recovering.
Additional suspected cases included 276 individuals in Agam regency, West Sumatra, leading to the suspension of food distribution from the local nutrition service center pending an investigation. In Aceh’s Bener Meriah regency, 15 elementary school students and a principal received treatment for symptoms such as dizziness and nausea. In Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, 152 students from two junior high schools were hospitalized with symptoms consistent with food poisoning.
No deaths have been reported in connection with these recent incidents. Authorities are currently investigating the specific causes of the outbreaks.
These events add to a significant number of food poisoning cases previously associated with the MBG program. Since its launch in January 2025, surveillance data from the Health Ministry indicates that food poisoning incidents linked to the program have affected 50,059 people across 560 cases in 245 districts and cities in 36 provinces as of September 2.
An internal review by the National Nutrition Agency found that an estimated 80% to 90% of prior food poisoning incidents were attributed to failures in adhering to food safety procedures. These failures include issues with food storage, ingredient reception, temperature control, and adherence to consumption deadlines, according to National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono.
Sudaryono acknowledged that the recent incidents represent a significant setback for the program. In response, the agency is intensifying oversight of meal providers and reviewing approximately 27,000 meal distribution centers nationwide. Inspectors have identified hundreds of facilities that may be fictitious and have shut down at least 833 kitchens for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation standards.
The Free Nutritious Meals program is designed to combat malnutrition and reduce childhood stunting by providing meals to nearly 90 million students, toddlers, and pregnant women. The initiative, projected to cost around $28 billion through 2029, is a central policy of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration and was a key campaign promise.