In Sragen, Indonesia, 365 people fell ill with symptoms of poisoning after a free school lunch. Local authorities have temporarily suspended the program to test food samples.
The free meal program, initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, was introduced to reduce stunted growth among children in the country. The $28 billion project provides meals to 80 million students nationwide. However, such cases of poisoning are undermining confidence in the program’s safety.
The contaminated meal included yellow rice, fried egg, cucumber salad, and milk. It was prepared in a central kitchen and distributed to several schools. The government has stated it will fully cover medical expenses.
Officials emphasize the need to introduce stricter hygiene requirements for the program. Since its launch, more than a thousand people across the country have sought hospital treatment with symptoms of poisoning.
The free meal program has also caused financial pressure. Budgets of several ministries were cut to fund it. As a result, some citizens have staged protests, demanding the government ensure the program’s safety and financial stability.
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