At least 1,000 students in West Java, Indonesia, have fallen ill due to food poisoning from free school meals, according to Reuters citing local authorities.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said on Thursday that private organizations have called for a suspension of the program to prioritize students’ health. The ambitious initiative, launched by the country’s current president, aims to provide free meals to more than 8 million schoolchildren across Indonesia.
Governor Mulyadi reported that over 470 students became ill following a lunch served on Monday in West Bandung. Subsequent outbreaks on Wednesday in the same area and in Sukabumi affected at least 580 more children. He noted that smaller hospitals are struggling to treat the influx of sick students.
The local government has declared a state of emergency in West Bandung due to the mass food poisoning. The governor urged authorities to ensure food safety and supervision while also addressing the trauma experienced by affected students.
Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency overseeing the program, stated that the contaminated kitchens have been shut down. Governor Mulyadi explained that the kitchens were located far from schools, so meals were prepared the night before and kept warm in transit, which contributed to the spoilage.
According to the think tank Network for Education Watch, at least 6,452 children have suffered from food poisoning after consuming meals from the program since January. The office of President Joko Widodo has not yet responded to the latest outbreak.