Around 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have fallen ill with food poisoning over the past three days linked to the government's free school meals programme. In the latest case, 777 people became unwell after consuming the food at a high school in Rembang, Central Java, according to the institution's headteacher.
Background
The meals were provided through a multibillion-dollar scheme that is one of President Prabowo Subianto's signature policies, aiming to improve nutrition for Indonesia's schoolchildren. However, the programme has faced allegations of corruption and criticism regarding its cost, alongside being the suspected source of a series of mass food poisonings.
Recent Developments
A total of 752 students and 25 teachers experienced symptoms of food poisoning after eating meals provided through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme at the high school in Lasem on Wednesday lunchtime. Headteacher Juhartutik reported:
“"They had diarrhoea and took turns using the toilet. There are 40 toilets in total, so they can't accommodate everyone."
The school has since sent nearly 1,200 pupils and 95 members of staff home, while several were taken to hospital. Juhartutik added that the government would cover any medical costs and that the local food distributor had come to the school to "take responsibility".
