JAKARTA (ANN/JAKARTA POST) – Multiple incidents of foodborne illness have emerged just two weeks into the launch of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program, raising concerns over food safety and hygiene standards.
On Thursday, 40 students from SDN Dukuh 03 state elementary school in Sukoharjo, Central Java, fell ill after consuming meals provided by a local caterer. The meals included white rice, fried breaded chicken, stir-fried carrots and tofu, dragon fruit, and a carton of milk.
Several students began vomiting, prompting teachers to contact the caterer and the local Puskesmas (community health center). The affected children received treatment and were discharged the same day.
Health officials determined that undercooked chicken was the cause. “When a dish is undercooked, it usually has a distinct smell or texture, but the children did not realise this until they got sick,” said Kunari Mahanani, head of Puskesmas Sukoharjo.
The caterer, affiliated with the 0726 Sukoharjo Military Command (Kodim), recalled and replaced the contaminated meals. The local health agency conducted food hygiene workshops in three schools to prevent similar incidents.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) head Hasan Nasbi confirmed the incident and stated that all caterers involved in the program are required to retain food samples for 48 hours for traceability in case of contamination.
“Such incidents will inform the evaluation process to tighten standard procedures for the program and ensure quality and hygiene,” Hasan said.
Another food poisoning case was reported days earlier in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, where 29 students from SDN 003 Nunukan Selatan fell ill after consuming meals prepared with repurposed leftovers.
Hairuddin, the school’s headmaster, revealed that a caterer had packed leftover soy sauce chicken from the morning meal into the afternoon distribution, leading to stomachaches and diarrhea among students and teachers.
President Prabowo’s initiative, launched on January 6, aims to provide free, nutritious meals to millions of schoolchildren and pregnant women. The program’s first phase targets 500,000 students across 190 approved caterers, with plans to scale up to 3 million recipients and 937 caterers by March.
The government allocated IDR71 trillion (USD4.3 billion) for the first phase, with an expected expansion to IDR420 trillion by year’s end to serve 82 million children and pregnant women.
However, experts have raised concerns about the program’s rollout, citing reports of meals failing to meet nutritional standards and complaints from students about taste.
Despite the setbacks, National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana emphasised the importance of the program’s goals and commended the swift response to the incidents.
President Prabowo remains committed to expanding the program, aiming to reach the full target by the end of 2025. “Food safety is a critical concern, but we must act quickly to ensure these meals reach those who need them most,” Dadan said.
The government has pledged to address hygiene issues and evaluate the program to prevent further incidents as the rollout continues nationwide.
