• More than 1,700 Indonesians, including students and teachers, have fallen ill from food poisoning linked to a government free meal programme.
• Mass food poisoning has prompted criticism and concerns over food safety and storage issues.
• The government has initiated investigations into the programme, which aims to improve nutrition but has faced numerous criticisms.

In recent days, over 1,700 individuals across Indonesia, primarily students and teachers, have reported food poisoning incidents linked to the government's free meals programme. A significant outbreak occurred when 777 students and teachers of a high school in Central Java experienced symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming meals provided by the programme, according to reports from South China Morning Post and BBC.

The free meal initiative, which aims to combat malnutrition among schoolchildren, was launched by President Prabowo Subianto and has faced ongoing scrutiny due to several food poisoning cases. A lawmaker involved in health oversight stated, "This is a failure of the system," highlighting that over 37,600 individuals were reported affected by food poisoning as of early August, and now additional cases have surfaced, pushing the total to around 2,000 as per Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Notably, the National Nutrition Agency, which oversees the program, suspended the kitchen linked to a significant outbreak in Sidoarjo, East Java, where 730 individuals fell ill from meals served 9 hours after preparation. Complaints about "slimy" chicken and undercooked food have been echoed by parents and educators, indicating widespread concerns over food safety, according to data from Reuters, South China Morning Post, and BBC.

The Indonesian authorities are actively investigating the outbreaks, with food samples being tested for possible contamination while local health officials have acknowledged that improper food storage and preparation practices have been identified as common issues contributing to these incidents. Sudaryono, head of the National Nutrition Agency, assured that any negligence would be addressed seriously as authorities attempt to manage the fallout from these alarming situations, according to Reuters and BBC.