Dozens of children fall ill during rollout of program that was a centrepiece of President Prabowo Subianto’s election campaign

Summary

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meal program, aimed at combating malnutrition and stunting, faced setbacks after dozens of schoolchildren fell ill from food poisoning.

At least 40 children experienced nausea and vomiting after consuming marinated chicken. Similar incidents have been reported in other regions.

The $45 billion program is intended to feed 82.9 million children and pregnant women by 2029.

Officials have withdrawn the affected meals and pledged to evaluate safety measures moving forward.