• Over 360 individuals in Sragen, Central Java were affected by food poisoning after consuming school lunches.
• This incident marks the largest food poisoning case within President Prabowo Subianto's free meals program since its launch in January.
• The suspected contaminated meal included turmeric rice, omelette ribbons, fried tempeh, and milk.

In a troubling incident in Sragen, Central Java, more than 360 people fell ill after consuming school lunches from a government program aimed at providing free meals to students, marking the largest food poisoning case linked to President Prabowo Subianto's initiative. Officials noted that this particular program has been subject to numerous mass food poisoning cases since its inception in January, affecting over 1,000 individuals nationally, according to South China Morning Post and Dawn.

Sragen government chief Sigit Pamungkas reported that 365 individuals reported illnesses, and samples of the affected food are currently being tested for contamination. Symptoms experienced by students included stomach pains, headaches, and diarrhea — notably reported by ninth grader Wizdan Ridho Abimanyu, who mentioned his distressing symptoms ignited after seeing similar complaints from classmates on social media, according to Channel News Asia and BBC.

The suspected meal that led to these incidents consisted of turmeric rice, scrambled eggs, and fried tempeh, among other items, all prepared in a central kitchen and distributed across various schools. As a precaution, authorities have temporarily halted food distributions from the implicated kitchen until laboratory results clarify the situation. The government has pledged to cover any medical expenses arising from the food poisoning incident, as reported by The Jakarta Post and South China Morning Post.

Amidst rising concerns over food safety within this ambitious program, Prabowo's administration has faced backlash regarding its execution. Critics argue that the program, which has a total estimated cost of $28 billion, has led to severe budget constraints across various governmental sectors, prompting public protests against the program's funding priorities. Numerous individuals have expressed their dissatisfaction, with some stating "Children eat for free, parents are laid off," emphasizing the economic distress caused by the program's financial handling, according to BBC and The Jakarta Post.