Indonesia urged to halt $10b free school meals plan after mass food poisoning

Health-focused nongovernmental organisations on Monday urged the government to temporarily halt President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free school meals programme, days after 500 children became sick in the biggest mass food poisoning outbreak so far.

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The $10 billion programme has reached more than 20 million recipients since its January launch, and is rapidly being scaled up in a bid to reach 83 million women and children by year end. But the programme has faced a number of setbacks in supplies and preparation.

Food poisoning from the free meals has affected 6,452 children nationwide, which was “a systemic failure,” Network for Education Watch (JPPI) head Ubaid Matraji told a parliamentary committee, saying the government must stop the programme to put in place stronger oversight.