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| Indonesia: Over 1,000 children fall ill from free school lunches | Indonesia: Over 1,000 children fall ill from free school lunches |
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| Thousands of school children have suffered food poisoning from a controversial free lunches programme since January | Thousands of school children have suffered food poisoning from a controversial free lunches programme since January |
| More than 1,000 children have fallen ill from free school lunches in Indonesia this week, according to authorities – the latest in a string of mass food poisoning events linked to President Prabowo Subianto's multi-billion-dollar nutritious meals programme. | More than 1,000 children have fallen ill from free school lunches in Indonesia this week, according to authorities – the latest in a string of mass food poisoning events linked to President Prabowo Subianto's multi-billion-dollar nutritious meals programme. |
| Yuyun Sarihotima, head of West Java's Cipongkor Community Health Center, told BBC Indonesia that the total number of poisoning victims recorded between Monday and Wednesday had reached 1,258. | |
| It follows the poisoning of 800 students last week in West Java and Central Sulawesi provinces. | It follows the poisoning of 800 students last week in West Java and Central Sulawesi provinces. |
| President Prabowo has made the nutritious meals programme – which aims to offer free lunches to 80 million school children – a signature of his leadership. | President Prabowo has made the nutritious meals programme – which aims to offer free lunches to 80 million school children – a signature of his leadership. |
| But a spate of mass food poisoning incidents has led non-governmental organisations to call for authorities to suspend the programme due to health concerns. | But a spate of mass food poisoning incidents has led non-governmental organisations to call for authorities to suspend the programme due to health concerns. |
| Muhaimin Iskandar, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, said on Wednesday that "there are no plans to stop it". | Muhaimin Iskandar, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, said on Wednesday that "there are no plans to stop it". |
| Victims of the recent outbreaks complained of stomach aches, dizziness, and nausea – as well as shortness of breath, which is a non-typical symptom of food poisoning. | Victims of the recent outbreaks complained of stomach aches, dizziness, and nausea – as well as shortness of breath, which is a non-typical symptom of food poisoning. |
| In previous cases of food poisoning stemming from the free lunch programme negligent food preparation has been cited as a suspected cause. | In previous cases of food poisoning stemming from the free lunch programme negligent food preparation has been cited as a suspected cause. |
| This week's victims ate meals that included soy sauce chicken, fried tofu, vegetables and fruit – but past poisoning incidents have been linked to expired sauce and, in one case, the serving of fried shark. | This week's victims ate meals that included soy sauce chicken, fried tofu, vegetables and fruit – but past poisoning incidents have been linked to expired sauce and, in one case, the serving of fried shark. |
| The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana said on Wednesday that the mass food poisoning in Cipongkor last week was the result of a technical error by the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG). | The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana said on Wednesday that the mass food poisoning in Cipongkor last week was the result of a technical error by the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG). |
| The SPPG's operations in Cipongkor have reportedly been suspended, according to the BGN. | The SPPG's operations in Cipongkor have reportedly been suspended, according to the BGN. |
| West Bandung regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail said his party had declared the mass poisoning in Cipongkor "an extraordinary event so that handling can be faster and more comprehensive". | West Bandung regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail said his party had declared the mass poisoning in Cipongkor "an extraordinary event so that handling can be faster and more comprehensive". |
| The free school lunch programme is a centrepiece project of President Prabowo Subianto | The free school lunch programme is a centrepiece project of President Prabowo Subianto |
| Cipongkor is where the first suspected case of this week's mass poisoning occurred on Monday – with the number of victims quickly increasing to some 475 students. | Cipongkor is where the first suspected case of this week's mass poisoning occurred on Monday – with the number of victims quickly increasing to some 475 students. |
| On Wednesday, another mass poisoning in Cipongkor saw as many as 500 students fall ill after consuming free lunches. | On Wednesday, another mass poisoning in Cipongkor saw as many as 500 students fall ill after consuming free lunches. |
| The BGN reported that from January to 22 September, there were 4,711 cases of free school lunch poisoning. The majority of cases occurred on the island of Java. | The BGN reported that from January to 22 September, there were 4,711 cases of free school lunch poisoning. The majority of cases occurred on the island of Java. |
| However, a higher figure was reported by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI). This NGO recorded that as of 21 September, the number of poisoning victims had increased to 6,452 children. | However, a higher figure was reported by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI). This NGO recorded that as of 21 September, the number of poisoning victims had increased to 6,452 children. |
| "This abnormal situation should require the government to declare an outbreak and temporarily halt the programme for a thorough evaluation," said JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji. | "This abnormal situation should require the government to declare an outbreak and temporarily halt the programme for a thorough evaluation," said JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji. |
| Some have called for changes to the scheme, including a proposal that funds be distributed directly to parents so that they can prepare meals for their children instead. The BGN has previously rejected this idea. | Some have called for changes to the scheme, including a proposal that funds be distributed directly to parents so that they can prepare meals for their children instead. The BGN has previously rejected this idea. |
| Populist policies have earned Prabowo political points | Populist policies have earned Prabowo political points |
| Across the world, programmes offering free meals to students have proved to be effective in improving health, academic performance and attendance. | Across the world, programmes offering free meals to students have proved to be effective in improving health, academic performance and attendance. |
| But Indonesia's $28bn (£21bn) version - shaping up to be the most expensive of its kind - has become the growing target of food safety concerns and heated anti-government protests. | But Indonesia's $28bn (£21bn) version - shaping up to be the most expensive of its kind - has become the growing target of food safety concerns and heated anti-government protests. |
| A centrepiece of Prabowo's presidential campaign last year, the free meals programme was pitched as a way to tackle stunting - a condition caused by malnutrition that affects a fifth of children below the age of five in Indonesia. | A centrepiece of Prabowo's presidential campaign last year, the free meals programme was pitched as a way to tackle stunting - a condition caused by malnutrition that affects a fifth of children below the age of five in Indonesia. |
| "Through this initiative, our children will grow taller and emerge as champions," Prabowo said in 2023. | "Through this initiative, our children will grow taller and emerge as champions," Prabowo said in 2023. |
| Since he took office last October, this programme, along with other populist policies like new houses and free medical check-ups, have earned him political points. His approval ratings stood at 80% after his first 100 days in power. | Since he took office last October, this programme, along with other populist policies like new houses and free medical check-ups, have earned him political points. His approval ratings stood at 80% after his first 100 days in power. |
| In the first phase, which began in January, free school meals have made their way to 550,000 students in 26 provinces. | In the first phase, which began in January, free school meals have made their way to 550,000 students in 26 provinces. |
| While the programme is "well-intentioned", Maria Monica Wihardja, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, previously told the BBC there has been "no evidence" of "widespread urgency" for free school meals. | While the programme is "well-intentioned", Maria Monica Wihardja, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, previously told the BBC there has been "no evidence" of "widespread urgency" for free school meals. |
| According to a national survey in 2024, less than 1% of Indonesia's households went at least one day without any meals in the past year. | According to a national survey in 2024, less than 1% of Indonesia's households went at least one day without any meals in the past year. |
| The cost of the programme has not helped matters. | The cost of the programme has not helped matters. |
| Indonesia has set aside more than $10bn this year for the free school meals. | Indonesia has set aside more than $10bn this year for the free school meals. |
| By comparison, India spends $1.5bn a year to feed 120 million children in what is the world's largest such programme. Brazil's version costs about the same and serves some 40 million students. | By comparison, India spends $1.5bn a year to feed 120 million children in what is the world's largest such programme. Brazil's version costs about the same and serves some 40 million students. |
| Defenders of the programme have argued that it has been approved and secured in the already-passed 2026 State Budget. | Defenders of the programme have argued that it has been approved and secured in the already-passed 2026 State Budget. |
| But experts have warned that its colossal cost could also lead to other concerns. | But experts have warned that its colossal cost could also lead to other concerns. |
| Large-scale social assistance programmes in Indonesia have historically been "riddled with corruption", Muhammad Rafi Bakri, a research analyst at Indonesia's audit board, told the BBC. | Large-scale social assistance programmes in Indonesia have historically been "riddled with corruption", Muhammad Rafi Bakri, a research analyst at Indonesia's audit board, told the BBC. |
| "Given the sheer size of the budget," he said, "this programme is a goldmine for corrupt officials." | "Given the sheer size of the budget," he said, "this programme is a goldmine for corrupt officials." |
| With additional reporting by Koh Ewe and Hanna Samosir | With additional reporting by Koh Ewe and Hanna Samosir |