US EditionOver 5K Indonesian Children Fall Ill from Free School Lunches
- On September 29, 2025, Indonesian students ate free meals under President Prabowo Subianto's MBG program amid a mass food poisoning outbreak.
- The MBG initiative, launched in January to combat child malnutrition and framed as a political priority, has faced systemic oversight failures causing thousands of illnesses.
- As of late September 2025, official reports recorded over 6,400 suspected poisoning cases across multiple provinces, with symptoms including nausea and breathing difficulties affecting low-income children.
- Nanik S. Deyang, BGN deputy head, apologized for the outbreaks, calling the situation heartbreaking and promising full responsibility including medical expense coverage.
- Despite public and NGO calls to suspend MBG for safety audits, Prabowo defended continuing the large-scale program as essential to national health and social welfare goals.
72 Articles
72 Articles
The $10 billion program, presented as a great success by the president, ended up at the center of the controversy after 103 episodes of intoxication in 16 provinces. The kitchens, often managed by the military, and the long distribution chains favor bacterial contamination. In some cases the menus even contained shark meat. Experts speak of a systemic failure, while the discontent also grows for the secrecy clauses provided in the program.
Indonesia to continue free school meals program despite 6,000 cases of food poisoning
International Desk (EFE).- Indonesia will press ahead with President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free school meals program, despite nearly 6,000 children suffering food poisoning since its launch in January, officials confirmed Monday. The government defended the multi-billion-dollar initiative, saying corrective measures are being taken, even as hospitals struggle to cope with repeated outbreaks and critics demand ...
It's a noble goal: free, healthy lunches for schoolchildren. But many Indonesians have lost faith in President Prabowo's food program. Despite criticism, the plan is being rigidly pursued.
Indonesian President Prabowo defends his free meal scheme after 6,000 suffer food poisoning
Indonesian President defended his ambitious plan to provide food for children after many suffer food poisoning during a speech at a political party event stating the percentage affected was small
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