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View all search resultsMass poisoning cases surge as free meals continue
At least 11,566 people have suffered from mass food poisoning after consuming government-sanctioned free nutritious meal packages since the program rollout, according to education watchdog group Network for Education Watch Indonesia (JPPI).
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Students suffering from mass food poisoning after consuming free nutritious meal packages receive treatment at a health post established at the SMP 1 Cisarua state junior high school in West Bandung regency, West Java on Oct. 15, 2025. (Antara/Raisan Al Farisi)
T
he number of mass food poisoning cases from the free nutritious meal program has continued to rise in the past week amid the government’s insistence on keeping the flagship initiative running, despite growing calls from the public to suspend or end it for a thorough evaluation.
In the past few months, more than 1,000 children nationwide have reportedly suffered from food poisoning after consuming meal packages received at school as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program to target 82 million school students, toddlers, pregnant women and nursing mothers to combat stunting and malnutrition.
The latest case occurred on Wednesday, when nearly 500 students across several elementary, junior and vocational high schools in Cisarua, West Bandung regency, West Java, were rushed to nearby hospitals due to severe nausea and dizziness after consuming the free meals.
The victims consist mostly of students and a handful of teachers; the latter tested the meals to ensure the food was good for consumption before it was handed over to the children.
“The number of people coming to the health post has slowly decreased. But we will remain on alert because there has yet to be any order to close the post down,” said Aep Kunaefi, coordinator of the health post for SMP 1 Cisarua state junior high school, on Wednesday, as quoted by TribunNews.com.
Earlier this month, at least 331 people in South Central Timor regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), including toddlers and pregnant mothers, also suffered from mass food poisoning after eating free meal packages, Kompas.id reported.
Read also: Calls grow to suspend free meal program after mass poisoning
