Approximately 2,000 Students and Teachers in Indonesia Report Food Poisoning Linked to School Meals

Approximately 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have reported food poisoning over the past three days, which is linked to the government's free school meals program. In the most recent case, 777 individuals became ill after consuming food at a high school in Rembang, Central Java, according to the headteacher of the institution. The meals are part of a multibillion-dollar initiative that is one of President Prabowo Subianto's key policies aimed at improving nutrition for schoolchildren in Indonesia. However, the program has faced allegations of corruption and criticism regarding its costs. A total of 752 students and 25 teachers experienced symptoms of food poisoning after eating meals provided through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program at the high school in Lasem on Wednesday. Headteacher Juhartutik reported that the affected individuals experienced diarrhea and had difficulty accessing the school's 40 toilets. The school has since sent nearly 1,200 pupils and 95 staff members home, with several requiring hospitalization. Juhartutik stated that the government would cover medical costs and that the local food distributor had taken responsibility. The suspected outbreak follows an incident where 730 individuals fell ill after consuming MBG meals at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Tuesday. A parent reported that their child experienced dizziness and nausea before developing stomach issues after eating the meal. Some affected individuals required hospital treatment, with some students transported in wheelchairs due to weakness. Hundreds of other suspected food poisoning cases have been reported across various schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. Improper food storage or preparation is often cited as a cause of food poisoning, which occurs when the body rejects contaminated food. Parents and teachers have described issues such as slimy chicken and undercooked food with a fishy odor. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the outbreaks, with food samples being tested for contamination. Achmad Sholeh Syarifudin, head of the food distribution unit in Lasem, apologized and took full responsibility for the recovery of the affected students and teachers, stating that a comprehensive evaluation of operations would be conducted following the incident. The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency remarked, "If negligence and criminal elements are identified, I apologize; we cannot help."