Archive · 16 Aug 2025
Indonesia School Meal Program Under Scrutiny After Mass Poisoning
In Indonesia, many children got sick after eating free school lunches.
The meals were provided as part of a large program to help kids.
The program is expensive, and some people worry about its cost.
The government is checking the food to see what caused the illness.
The president is defending the program and says it will help people.
Over 360 people in Sragen, Indonesia, fell ill after consuming free school lunches.
The meals, which included rice, eggs, tempeh, salad, and milk, are suspected of causing the illness.
This is the largest reported outbreak linked to President Prabowo's free meals program.
The program aims to feed about 80 million schoolchildren and tackle child stunting, costing approximately $28 billion.
The initiative has faced criticism over its high cost, leading to budget cuts and protests.
- Who
- Over 360 students and President Prabowo's free meals program.
- What
- Mass food poisoning outbreak linked to the free school meals program in Indonesia.
- When
- The outbreak occurred recently, with the program launched in January.
- Where
- Sragen, Indonesia.
- Why
- To investigate the cause of the illnesses and address safety concerns.
Critics of the program
Government
Program Cost
Critics of the program
Concerns about the high cost and effectiveness of the free meals program.
Government
The government believes the free meals program will help alleviate poverty.
- Affected Individuals
- Over 360 people
- Location
- Sragen, Indonesia
- Meal Components
- Turmeric rice, eggs, tempeh, cucumber salad, milk
- Program Goal
- Feed 80 million schoolchildren
- Estimated Program Cost
- $28 billion
- Reported Illnesses (total)
- Over 1,000 people
