Prabowo’s free meals program hit by 17 major food poisoning incidents

Indonesia’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has recorded 17 major food poisoning incidents linked to the program since its launch in January.

Indonesia’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has recorded 17 major food poisoning incidents linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s Free Nutritious Meals program since its launch in early January.

The cases span 10 provinces, according to BPOM head Taruna Ikrar, who disclosed the findings during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.

Ikrar said the foodborne illnesses stem primarily from contamination of raw ingredients, likely occurring during handling, processing, or storage within food preparation facilities.

“Contamination was found at the raw ingredient stage, likely due to conditions in the kitchens or handling facilities. We must learn from this so that similar incidents don’t happen again,” he said.

Another contributing factor, he noted, was bacterial growth caused by improper temperature control and delays in food distribution.

“Some meals were cooked too early and distributed too late, arriving in unsafe conditions,” Ikrar explained.

He also pointed to broader lapses in food safety oversight, including inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices during production and delivery.

The recently established National Nutrition Agency (BGN), tasked with overseeing the Rp 71 trillion ($6.71bn) program, has suspended operations at one kitchen in Bogor, West Java, after up to 223 students fell ill earlier this month.

As a result, 13 schools in Bogor City will not receive meals until further notice.

Laboratory tests conducted by the regional health authority confirmed the presence of E. coli and Salmonella in food samples.

Bogor mayor Dedie Rachim reported that the bacteria were found in two dishes: barbecue-seasoned fried eggs and a stir-fried mix of tofu and bean sprouts.

Nationwide, from January to May, more than 1300 students have reported symptoms of food poisoning after consuming meals provided under the program.

The cases across 10 provinces are an early setback for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s program. Picture: AFP

BGN head Dadan Hindayana attributed the Bogor incident to the kitchen’s lack of experience managing large-scale operations.

He said the agency is considering offering insurance coverage for both student beneficiaries and kitchen workers as a precaution.

President Prabowo, who championed the free nutritious meals initiative as a flagship campaign promise, has acknowledged the incidents but emphasised that they affect a small fraction of the 3 million students currently receiving the meals.

But the recurring incidents have sparked widespread public criticism, with many calling for a thorough evaluation of the program.

He has since instructed BGN and relevant ministries to improve food safety vigilance.

“Our target is zero accident, no food poisoning cases on the ground,” Dadan said, quoting the President after a co-ordination meeting earlier this month.