On Monday, health-oriented NGOs called for a pause on President Prabowo Subianto’s free school meals initiative after 500 children fell ill in a major food poisoning incident.
Since its January inception, this $10 billion program has benefited over 20 million people and aims to reach 83 million women and children by year-end. However, issues with supply and meal preparation have arisen.
The food poisoning cases have affected 6,452 children nationwide, which Network for Education Watch’s Ubaid Matraji labeled as a “systemic failure.” He urged the government to halt the program for enhanced oversight.
A parliamentary committee was informed of these issues by six NGOs, including the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) and the Movement for Mother and Child Health.
CISDI recommended suspending the program, highlighting a lack of government mechanisms to assess or prevent food poisoning in kitchens, according to senior analyst Iqbal Hafizon.
NGOs also pressed the National Nutrition Agency to focus on nutritional quality, noting that many meals contain ultra-processed foods, which are unhealthy.
Doctor Tan Shot Yen from the Mother and Child Movement warned that these foods shift the program’s focus from nutrition and could lead to non-communicable diseases.
Her group suggested suspending meals in kitchens with poisoning incidents.
Committee deputy head Charles Honoris promised to relay these proposals to the National Nutrition Agency but emphasized the program’s strategic importance.
The 171 trillion rupiah ($10.30 billion) budget is expected to double next year.
In a Monday press conference, National Nutrition Agency head Dadan Hindayana didn’t address suspension calls but expressed regret over the incidents and pledged government investigations.
