Indonesia Probes Mass Food Poisoning as Protests Continue Nationwide
Indonesia Probes Mass Food Poisoning as Protests Continue Nationwide
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Authorities in Indonesia have launched an investigation after around 400 children in Bengkulu province fell ill from free school meals, marking the most serious food poisoning incident linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s national nutrition programme, media outlets reported.
The children, aged 4 to 12, were hospitalized with stomach pain last Thursday after consuming meals provided under the government’s flagship initiative aimed at supporting pregnant women and schoolchildren. Bengkulu’s Vice Governor Mian confirmed that operations at the implicated kitchen have been suspended pending investigation by the National Nutrition Agency and health officials.
The kitchen had only recently begun operations, according to Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency, who urged a review of procedures while awaiting food safety test results. Launched in January, the free meals programme has rapidly expanded to serve over 20 million people, with a target of 83 million by year-end. The programme has a 2025 budget of 171 trillion rupiah ($10.52 billion).
This incident follows a similar outbreak in Central Java last month, where 365 individuals became ill due to poor sanitation. The mass illness comes as Indonesia faces widespread antigovernment protests and international concern, with the UN urging investigations into alleged excessive force used by security forces against demonstrators.
