Around 2,000 fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals

Around 2,000 people fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals

Around 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have been struck by food poisoning over the past three days, in cases linked to the government’s free school meals programme.

In the latest incident, 777 people became sick after eating food at a high school in Rembang, Central Java, the school’s headteacher said.

The meals were supplied under a multibillion-dollar scheme that is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship policies, designed to improve nutrition for Indonesia’s schoolchildren.

However, alongside being suspected in a series of mass food poisoning incidents, the programme has also faced corruption allegations and criticism over its cost.

A total of 752 students and 25 teachers developed symptoms of food poisoning after eating meals provided through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme at the high school in Lasem on Wednesday lunchtime.

"They had diarrhoea and took turns using the toilet," headteacher Juhartutik told BBC News Indonesia. "There are 40 toilets in total, so they can't accommodate everyone."

The school has since sent nearly 1,200 pupils and 95 staff members home, while several people were taken to hospital.

Juhartutik said the government would pay any medical expenses and that the local food distributor had come to the school to "take responsibility".

The suspected outbreak followed 730 people falling ill after eating MBG meals at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Tuesday, according to a local health official.

Reni said their child felt dizzy and nauseous before developing stomach problems after eating the meal.

Some of those affected needed hospital treatment, with some students taken in wheelchairs because they were too weak to stand.

Hundreds more have been affected by suspected food poisoning cases linked to the free school meals this week, including hundreds across several schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi.

Food poisoning is often caused by improper storage or badly prepared food, when the body rejects contaminated food.

Parents and teachers have told reporters about slimy chicken, as well as food that appeared undercooked and had a fishy smell.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the suspected outbreaks, and food samples are being tested for possible contamination.

The head of the food distribution unit in Lasem, Achmad Sholeh Syarifudin, apologised and took "full responsibility for the recovery of students and teachers".

He said the unit would carry out a comprehensive review of its operations after the incident.

The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency has said: "If it is identified that there was negligence and there are criminal elements, I apologise, we cannot help."