JAKARTA, Sept 25 – In a deeply troubling development, over 1,000 schoolchildren in Indonesia’s West Java have fallen ill due to food poisoning after consuming free school meals — marking another alarming chapter in what was meant to be a revolutionary public health and education initiative.
The incidents were reported in West Bandung and Sukabumi, where small local hospitals became overwhelmed with waves of young patients. Governor Dedi Mulyadi confirmed that 470 students became sick on Monday, followed by at least 580 more affected in subsequent outbreaks this week.
This is not an isolated occurrence. Just last week, 800 students in West Java and Central Sulawesi suffered from similar food-related illnesses. Since President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meals programme launched in January, over 6,400 children across the country have reportedly been affected by foodborne illnesses.
The programme, which carries a massive budget of 171 trillion rupiah (RM43 billion), is designed to scale up and reach 83 million Indonesians by the end of the year. However, these recent outbreaks raise serious questions about the oversight, hygiene standards, and execution strategy behind this ambitious initiative.
Speaking to the press, Governor Mulyadi expressed concern not just over logistical failings but the psychological trauma inflicted on children.
“We must evaluate those running the programme… But more importantly, how do we now deal with the students’ trauma after what they’ve experienced?” he said. “Hospitals are flooded. Our small facilities in West Bandung can’t keep up.”
A health emergency has now been declared in the region, allowing local authorities to mobilize emergency funding and resources. Meanwhile, the National Nutrition Agency has suspended kitchens where poisoning occurred. However, many feel these are reactive steps, not proactive solutions.
Photos from local media show heartbreaking scenes: young students lying on sports hall floors, some being treated in parking lots and hospital corridors due to lack of space, while ambulances come and go non-stop.
One key issue identified is the food delivery logistics. Meals are prepared hours in advance, and sometimes the night before. Once cooked, the food is immediately sealed in trays, allowing bacteria to grow due to trapped heat and poor ventilation.
This tragedy casts a long shadow over what was meant to be a life-changing initiative for millions of children in Indonesia. The intention — to feed the nation’s future — is noble. But without rigorous quality control, community oversight, and health safety standards, even the most well-funded programmes can become dangerous.
Behind every number is a child. A classroom filled with laughter yesterday became a room filled with pain today.
This is not just about food poisoning. It’s about trust — the trust parents place in schools and governments, the trust children hold in the system meant to protect and nurture them.
As Indonesia pushes forward with its ambitious programme, may this be a turning point — not just for better meals, but for better governance, compassion, and accountability. Because when we feed a child, we must also ensure we do no harm.
