by Mathias Hariyadi

Hailed as a "great success" by the president, the US$ 10-billion programme has become the centre of controversy because of 103 incidents of poisoning in 16 provinces. Often run by the military, the kitchens and the programme’s long distribution chains facilitate bacterial contamination. In some cases, shark meat is included in the menu. Experts note that the programme suffers from “systemic failure”, while discontent is also growing over its confidentiality clauses.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The number of children poisoned after consuming free school meals, part of a US$ 10-billion plan promoted by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, has risen to more than 9,000, this according to the country’s food and drug agency during a parliamentary hearing, up from an initial estimate of 6,000.

Despite mounting criticism, President Prabowo continues to defend the programme (known in Indonesian by its acronym MBG), calling it a great success.

A retired general and a former head of Kopassus, Indonesia’s special forces, accused of crimes against humanity for his actions against Timor-Leste’s pro-independence movement, he insisted that the poisoning cases were but “small ripples" compared to the programme's overall results.

The president stressed that millions of Indonesian children now enjoy free, nutritious meals, a fact he described as unprecedented in the country's history. Boasting a 99.99 per cent success rate, he added that many countries would like to replicate the Indonesian model.

The reality on the ground tells another story. The Indonesian food agency reported 103 cases of food poisoning from January to September, affecting 9,089 children.

“Since late July and August, cases have increased significantly," said Taruna Ikrar, the agency's chief, noting that the problems originate in the kitchens.

Most poisoning cases involve kitchens, which had been operating for less than a month, staffed by the military, brought by Prabowo into several state agencies since the start of his mandate.

“Ingredients are prepared at night, cooked early in the morning, and only reach schools by midday. This process is highly prone to bacteria,” explained a lawmaker, who suggested replacing the programme with direct cash transfers to parents.

Sri Raharjo, director of the Centre for Food and Nutrition Studies at Gadjah Mada University, referred to the repeated cases of food poisoning as a "systemic failure" in food preparation, processing, and distribution.

“Cooked food should not be stored for more than four hours. Water quality must also be free from contamination,” he explained. The government should conduct regular inspections, he added, while providing regular training to workers, and imposing severe penalties on those who fail to meet safety standards.

The latest incident occurred in the province of Southeast Sulawesi, where 46 students ended up in hospital with nausea, dizziness, and diarrhoea after consuming free meals.

Similar cases have been reported in Nunukan (North Kalimantan), Bogor (West Java), Sragen, and Wonogiri (Central Java), as well as other districts.

In Bogor, 223 students were poisoned and scores hospitalised, forcing local authorities to declare a state of emergency. In Sragen, 196 people, including students, teachers, and family members, reported similar symptoms.

Children's menus also came under fire, particularly in East Kalimantan, where at least 25 students became ill due to meals that included fried shark in tomato sauce, a food high in mercury and unsuitable for children.

The authorities responsible for the MBG programme have defended themselves by arguing that shark meat is a commonly consumed food in the region and is therefore a local tradition.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Wisnu Rosariastoko, a private bank employee, questioned the effectiveness and safety of the project.

“As I reflect on the MBG programme, I am reminded of the rich culinary traditions in Indonesia, where cooking is not just about sustenance, but about community and culture. However, MBG programme seems to have lost sight of these values, prioritising quantity over quality and safety,” he lamented.

The lack of transparency has also fuelled public discontent. The presence of a secrecy clause, requiring beneficiaries to remain silent about food poisoning cases, has raised serious questions about the government's commitment to transparency and accountability.

A CNN Indonesia journalist reportedly had his press pass revoked by the presidential palace after he asked Prabowo a question about the MBG on Saturday.

According to Tan Shot Yen, a physician and nutritionist, the programme does not even meet its stated goal of providing healthy and nutritious meals. “What we found on the ground were, in fact, junk food meals," she explained during a special hearing in the House of Representatives.

In response to the situation, which is likely to get worse in the coming weeks, the military has begun producing multivitamins to include in meals.

Yesterday, Deputy Defence Minister Marshal (ret) Donny Ermawan Taufanto, symbolically delivered 4.8 million multivitamin pills produced by a military laboratory to 100 kitchens serving free meals in the capital, Jakarta.

The military's involvement has drawn criticism as well, especially from younger Indonesians, but the government defended itself by claiming that programme is part of the country’s defence policy, which includes the pharmaceutical sector, and is meant to provide more affordable medicines and vitamins.

The MBG programme was among Prabowo's key political promises ahead of last year's presidential elections. So far it has been extended to 22.7 million beneficiaries, and the government expects it will cover 82.9 million people by the end of the year.

Its aim is to address stunting, a condition caused by malnutrition that affects one Indonesian child in five.

For the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Indonesians have the right to sue the government over the consequences of the programme.

“The food poisoning cases that have affected thousands of children can be classified as both material and immaterial losses, meeting the criteria for unlawful acts,” said lawyer Arif Maulana, YLBHI’s deputy director for advocacy and networks.

According to Arif, two legal avenues are available: a class action lawsuit to obtain compensation or a civil suit, aimed at forcing the government to review and improve its policies without necessarily seeking compensation.

• indonesia
• meal programme
• children
• food poisoning
• prabowo subianto
• lawsuit
• defence policy