At least 512 students from 19 schools in Indonesia’s East Java province have reportedly fallen ill after consuming free meals provided under the government’s flagship nutrition programme, with many requiring hospital treatment for suspected food poisoning.
The students, from the Tanggulangin district of Sidoarjo Regency, reportedly developed health problems after eating breakfast and lunch on September 2. The meals included white rice, scrambled eggs, tempeh in Balinese sauce, sautéed green beans and apples.
Health emergency declared after students fall sick
The incident prompted local authorities to declare a health emergency and launch an investigation into the suspected food contamination.
The meals were supplied by a government-designated Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit kitchen in the Kalitengah area of Sidoarjo.
A large number of affected students reportedly belong to the Mambaul Hikam Islamic boarding school complex, which has around 1,000 students. School teacher Ahmed Rivan said 413 students at the institution were affected, including 293 girls.
Rivan said he and his wife, who is also a teacher, noticed that the food appeared stale and chose to eat only the fruit. Several children were still experiencing health problems later in the day.
Food samples sent for laboratory testing
Gus Abdul Wahid Harun, chairman of the foundation that runs the boarding school, expressed concern over the incident and said the institution coordinated with government and health authorities to manage the emergency.
Dozens of ambulances were deployed, while East Java Deputy Governor Emil Dardak said nearly 300 students had been admitted to Notopuro Hospital and were receiving care.
Following an inspection, officials ordered the temporary suspension of operations at the kitchen that supplied the meals. Samples collected from the facility have been sent for laboratory testing to determine the source of the suspected contamination.
Free meal programme faces renewed scrutiny
The incident has drawn attention to Indonesia’s nationwide Free Nutritious Meal programme, a major government initiative aimed at improving children’s nutrition and human-resource development.
Government figures indicate that more than 61 million people had benefited from the programme as of March. However, the scheme has faced concerns over food-safety incidents and alleged irregularities since its launch.
Authorities are expected to await laboratory findings before determining the exact cause of the students’ illnesses. The investigation is also expected to examine food preparation, storage and distribution procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.