Indonesia’s free school meals face suspension after thousands fall ill from contamination

Indonesia’s flagship free-meal initiative, Makan Bergizi Gratis, introduced in January 2025 to combat child malnutrition, is under intense scrutiny after a wave of food-poisoning cases. Health ministry figures indicate that from September 1-9 alone, nearly 3,500 individuals, primarily students, fell ill, bringing the total to about 50,000 sick across 560 reported incidents. In North Sumatra, tests revealed contamination with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria linked to poor storage and temperature control.

One high-profile case involves 16-year-old Febiola Purba, who suffered memory loss, seizures and speech difficulties after consuming a school meal, prompting a hospital transfer at the request of Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The National Nutrition Agency, now led by Sudaryono, has suspended operations at 1,276 kitchens lacking proper sanitation certificates, while legal aid groups have issued notices to the agency, the Finance Ministry, parliament and President Prabowo Subianto, alleging systemic negligence and possible human-rights breaches. Critics argue that repeated incidents reflect deeper flaws in the program’s supply chain and call for its complete shutdown.