Largest Food Poisoning Yet in Indonesia’s Free Meals Program Hits Sragen

Indonesia’s flagship free school meals program has been hit by its largest food poisoning incident to date, with 365 people in Sragen, Central Java, falling ill after consuming lunches provided under the scheme.

Local official Sigit Pamungkas confirmed the cases and said food samples have been sent for laboratory testing. Authorities have pledged to cover any medical expenses for those affected.

The incident was brought to light by students sharing their experiences online. Fourteen-year-old Wizdan Ridho Abimanyu described being woken at night by sharp stomach pain, headache, and diarrhoea after seeing similar complaints on social media. Thirteen-year-old Labibah Fathin Marzuqoh said she experienced “piercing” stomach pain.

The meal in question, cooked in a central kitchen and distributed to several schools, included turmeric rice, omelette ribbons, fried tempeh, cucumber and lettuce salad, sliced apple, and a box of milk.

The National Nutrition Agency, which oversees the program, had previously raised hygiene and delivery standards after earlier incidents, including a May case in West Java where more than 200 students were sickened by Salmonella and E. coli contamination.

The free meals program currently serves over 15 million recipients, with plans to reach 83 million by year-end.