Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 hr ago
About 100 Children in Cirebon Fall Ill After Government Meal
About 100 children in Cirebon, West Java, fell ill after eating meals provided through Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program.
The children reported nausea and vomiting and received treatment at four hospitals.
The meal included vegetable soup and quail eggs, and one parent said their child thought the eggs smelled bad.
The cause has not been confirmed, and food samples have been sent for laboratory testing.
Authorities say the children's conditions have improved, with some already discharged, and the National Nutrition Agency will cover treatment costs.
The kitchen that supplied the meals has been suspended while the investigation continues, with no end date announced.
Around 100 children in Cirebon, West Java, were suspected of becoming ill after eating meals provided through the government’s Free Nutritious Meals program.
The children were treated at four hospitals, and officials said their conditions had improved.
The meals included vegetable soup and quail eggs, and samples were sent for laboratory testing to determine the cause.
Authorities temporarily suspended the Kalijaga meal-service unit that supplied the meals.
A parent said his child reported that some quail eggs smelled unpleasant.
- Who
- Around 100 children in Cirebon, including pupils and children attending kindergartens and a health post.
- What
- They were suspected of food poisoning after eating meals from the Free Nutritious Meals program.
- When
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026; symptoms were reported later that day.
- Where
- Kalijaga, Harjamukti subdistrict, Cirebon, West Java.
- Why
- The suspected cause is under investigation. Food samples were sent to a laboratory.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The children ate the meal during the first school break.
One parent’s child returned home from school.
The child began experiencing nausea and vomiting and was taken to hospital.
Officials said the Kalijaga meal-service unit had been suspended until further notice.
- Suspected cases
- Around 100 children
- Location
- Kalijaga, Cirebon, West Java
- Hospitals
- Siloam Putera Bahagia, Gunung Jati Regional, Ciremai, and Cahaya Bunda
- Meal
- Vegetable soup and quail eggs
- Service unit
- Kalijaga Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit
- Beneficiaries served
- 2,500 across two schools and one integrated health post
4 sources
What people are saying
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) will cover all treatment costs
My child said the quail eggs smelled bad
The students' conditions have improved