More than 360 students in Sragen, Central Java, fell ill after consuming school lunches, marking the largest food poisoning case tied to President Prabowo Subianto’s free meals program.
The meals, distributed to several schools, included turmeric rice, omelette ribbons, fried tempeh, cucumber and lettuce salad, sliced apple, and milk, all prepared in a central kitchen.
Local authorities confirmed that food samples are being tested in a laboratory.
Officials said the government will cover any medical expenses for affected students.
The Sragen government temporarily halted meals from the kitchen involved until test results are available.
This incident is the latest in a series of food safety issues affecting the program since its launch in January.
Over 1,000 people nationwide have fallen ill in similar cases linked to the initiative, which aims to provide free meals to schoolchildren across Indonesia.
Students described sudden stomach pain, diarrhea, and headaches following the meals.
One ninth grader reported realizing he had food poisoning after seeing classmates post about their symptoms on social media.
The National Nutrition Agency, responsible for the program, has previously updated kitchen operations and delivery procedures in response to prior food poisoning events.
Despite the incidents, the program continues its rapid expansion, currently reaching more than 15 million recipients, with a goal of feeding 83 million students by the end of the year.
The total budget for the program this year is 171 trillion rupiah, equivalent to about $10.6 billion.
Earlier this year, in May, a similar outbreak affected over 200 students in West Java. Laboratory tests confirmed contamination with Salmonella and E. coli bacteria.
Authorities continue to monitor and enforce stricter food safety measures to prevent further incidents.