'Not perfect' Officials defend Indonesia's free meals policy after food poisonings

Rini Irawati feared the worst when she found her daughter Nabila pale and barely breathing in an emergency centre in Indonesia's West Java. "My heart was shattered," Rini said.

- Michael Neilson

After consuming one of the government's free school meals this October, 16-year-old Nabila and 500 other students at schools in her area became violently ill. "I've seen nothing like it, even during Covid-19," said Aep Kunaepi, who works at the shelter Nabila was taken to before she was admitted to hospital for three days.

In January the Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, unveiled his flagship free meals programme to combat malnutrition and stunted growth. But thousands have been poisoned by the government-provided food since then, sparking concern that the programme is putting child safety at risk.

The £3.2bn free meal programme provides daily meals to 39 million school students, toddlers, pregnant women and new mothers, according to the national nutrition agency, known as BGN. By year end the target is to reach 83 million.