Indonesia’s School Children Free Meal Drive, Faces Setback as Over 800 Students Fall Sick in Two Cases of Mass Food Poisoning

A flagship government initiative to provide free meals to school children has been thrown into the spotlight after more than 800 students across Indonesia suffered food poisoning this week.

The most severe incident struck Garut, West Java, where 569 students from five schools fell sick after eating chicken-and-rice portions on Wednesday. Dozens were hospitalised. Most of them have been discharged. But ten children still remained under severe observation as of Friday.

The programme had promised not only relief from daily food expenses for parents, but also healthier and more consistent nutrition for children. Now, many parents are torn between gratitude for government support and fear over food safety. Parents wanted to believe this programme was for the good of their children, but now they are worried that every lunchbox could make their children sick.

At the national level, the incidents raise questions about the programme’s oversight and procurement chain. These are critical areas for government and local suppliers who are tied to the over $10 billion initiative. Analysts warn that lapses in food safety could undermine public trust and trigger costly reviews or stricter compliance demands for catering providers.

President Joko Widodo has championed the meals scheme as both a nutrition boost and a stimulus for local farmers and food businesses. With this week’s outbreaks, the government faces the challenge of balancing economic opportunity with rigorous safety standards; as this is a test of credibility and logistics.

In the main time, the sight of children recovering in crowded hospital wards has become the human face of a national programme under pressure, as officials scramble to reassure parents and restore confidence.