More than 800 students and teachers in Indonesia suffer food poisoning after eating government free meals
Thousands of students and teachers in Indonesia suffer food poisoning after consuming government-supplied free meals. Reports on the total number of affected individuals vary across media outlets, ranging from more than 800 to approximately 2,000 falling ill over a span of several days. Indonesian officials report that the government-supplied meals are currently being tested following the widespread illnesses. The recurring safety incidents threaten public support for President Prabowo Subianto's initiative to eradicate childhood malnutrition.
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- ✓ Students and teachers in Indonesia suffered food poisoning after eating government free meals.
- ✓ Indonesian officials say government-supplied meals are being tested after students fell ill.
What changed
Total illness estimates have climbed as high as 2,000 cases following multiple food safety incidents linked to the government meal initiative.
Live updates
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Indonesia Free School Meals Sickens Thousands
Thousands of students and teachers in Indonesia suffer food poisoning after consuming government-supplied free meals. Reports on the total number of affected individuals vary across media outlets, ranging from more than 800 to approximately 2,000 falling ill over a span of several days. Indonesian officials report that the government-supplied meals are currently being tested following the widespread illnesses. The recurring safety incidents threaten public support for President Prabowo Subianto's initiative to eradicate childhood malnutrition.
Why it matters
The free school meal program is a major policy initiative launched by President Prabowo Subianto to improve nutrition among Indonesian schoolchildren. Repeated outbreaks of food poisoning threaten to derail public backing for the government effort. Authorities face mounting pressure to investigate the supply chain and ensure the safety of the program.
What is confirmed
- Students and teachers in Indonesia suffered food poisoning after eating government free meals.
- Indonesian officials say government-supplied meals are being tested after students fell ill.
Still unconfirmed
- More than 1,700 people fell sick from the free school meals in three days.
- More than 800 students and teachers suffered food poisoning.
- More than 500 students fell ill in the tested cases.
- 567 students fell ill in a suspected MBG food poisoning case in East Java.
- Around 2,000 people fell ill after eating the free school meals.
- Repeated food safety incidents are rapidly eroding public support for President Prabowo Subianto's programme to eradicate malnutrition among schoolchildren.
What to watch next
- Official results from laboratory tests on the government-supplied meals
- Government announcements regarding changes or suspensions to the free school meal program
- Further updates on the total number of students and teachers hospitalized
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (6)
- Reuters — More than 1,700 fall sick from Indonesia free school meals in three days
- The Guardian — More than 800 students and teachers in Indonesia suffer food poisoning after eating government free meals
- CNA — Indonesian officials say government-supplied meals tested after more than 500 students fall ill
- Jakarta Globe — 567 Students Fall Ill in Suspected MBG Food Poisoning Case in E. Java
- BBC — Indonesia: Around 2,000 fall ill after eating free school meals
- www.yahoo.com — More than 2,000 students fall ill after eating free school meals in Indonesia
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