Indonesian authorities have launched an investigation after nearly 700 students in Yogyakarta province fell ill from suspected food poisoning linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free school meal initiative. Officials reported that improper food storage and delayed delivery of cooked meals may have caused the incident, which occurred in the Gunungkidul region. Around 660 students from two schools were hospitalized after consuming the free meals, regional head Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih confirmed on Wednesday.
The free school meal programme, introduced in January, was one of Prabowo’s key election promises aimed at tackling malnutrition and supporting students from low-income families. However, concerns are growing as data from the non-governmental organisation JPPI revealed that nearly 15,000 children across Indonesia have fallen ill since its launch. The group has urged the government to temporarily suspend the programme until stricter safety measures are implemented.
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Officials from the national nutrition agency (BGN), which manages the initiative, have temporarily shut down several kitchens near the affected areas while investigations continue. There are currently 11,000 kitchens operating across the country, but maintaining food quality and hygiene remains a major challenge due to Indonesia’s vast geography and limited resources. The BGN has now instructed kitchen staff to reduce meal portions to ensure freshness and minimize the risk of contamination.
In response to the growing crisis, President Prabowo has formed a special ministerial task force to strengthen supervision of the programme. The team includes the health minister and the head of BGN, who will coordinate safety protocols and monitor kitchen operations nationwide. Despite allocating 171 trillion rupiah ($10.3 billion) for the programme this year, officials estimate that only 99 trillion rupiah will be spent due to delays and logistical difficulties.
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As the investigation continues, the government faces mounting pressure to restore public trust in the initiative. While the programme was designed to provide free meals to 83 million recipients by the end of 2025, current projections suggest it will only reach 70 million. Authorities now stress that food safety, rather than speed, must be the top priority to prevent future outbreaks and protect millions of schoolchildren.