Foodborne illness cases mar roll-out of Prabowo’s flagship free-meal scheme in Indonesia

Despite the reported lapses in food safety, officials say Prabowo aims to accelerate the programme’s expansion

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Pupils enjoy their breakfast in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, on January 6 as
part of a free-meal scheme. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:40pm, 20 Jan 2025

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free-meal scheme has encountered an early setback after dozens of cases of foodborne illness at schools emerged just two weeks into the implementation of the US$4.4 billion plan, casting doubts about its rapid roll-out and ambitious expansion plans.

According to local media reports, 40 students at the SDN Dukuh 03 state elementary school in Central Java’s Sukoharjo regency fell ill after eating the meals, which consisted of fried chicken, stir-fried carrots and tofu, rice, dragon fruit and milk.

Similarly, several students and some teachers in a state school in Nunukan in North Kalimantan also reported experiencing symptoms of food poisoning after eating the pre-packaged lunches.

Dadan Hindayana, the head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which was set up by Prabowo to oversee the free-meal initiative, told reporters that the incident in Sukoharjo had to do with the improper cooking of chicken in the packed lunches.

Staff prepare lunch plates on the first day of a free-meal programme at a public kitchen in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on January 6. Photo: AFP

Hasan Nasbi, the head of the Presidential Communications Office, meanwhile said the caterer had since recalled and replaced the tainted meals.