Food Poisoning Outbreak Challenges Indonesia's Free Meal Initiative

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A recent outbreak of food poisoning has cast a shadow over the rollout of President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meal program in Indonesia. The initiative, launched this month, aims to provide free meals to approximately 82.9 million children and pregnant women as part of a multi-billion dollar policy designed to tackle malnutrition and improve quality of life.

However, the program encountered immediate issues when 40 schoolchildren from a Sukoharjo school in Central Java experienced nausea and vomiting after consuming marinated chicken meals provided by the initiative. Presidential spokesperson Hasan Nasbi confirmed the incident, noting that the affected children received medical treatment and are recovering. The contaminated food has been withdrawn, and the government has promised to evaluate food safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Reports suggest that the food poisoning incident may not have been isolated, with additional cases of illness linked to government-supplied meals in Nunukan, North Kalimantan. Nasbi did not comment on these claims.

The free meal program is a key part of Prabowo's administration, which seeks to combat stunting that currently affects 21.5% of the nation's children. The initiative's projected cost is approximately $45 billion over five years, with plans to expand its reach further. Despite this setback, recent surveys indicate strong public support for Prabowo's policies, with an approval rating of over 80% as he nears the 100-day mark of his presidency.

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