A mass food poisoning incident affecting 79 students from two schools in Cianjur, West Java, has been linked to suspected negligence during food preparation within Indonesia’s free nutritious meals program, according to an article from the Jakara Globe.
Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), indicated that initial investigations point to improper handling of food ingredients during processing as the likely cause of contamination. The affected students from MAN 1 Cianjur Islamic School and SMP PGRI 1 Middle School Cianjur fell ill after consuming government-provided meals on April 21.
The Cianjur Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit has now launched an investigation into the matter. Ten people at the SPPG Limbangansari Kitchen have been questioned, including the kitchen head, nutritionist, cooks, packers, and couriers, according to police.
The investigation remains in the initial stages, with no suspects named yet. The kitchen, which supplies meals to seven schools in the district and produces nearly 3,000 meal portions daily, has been temporarily suspended.
Most of those affected have been discharged from the hospital, though five students remain under observation, according to health authorities.
Officials are currently focusing on preventive measures rather than punitive action. The National Nutrition Agency is prioritizing additional training to improve food processing standards and reinforcing food safety protocols at institutions responsible for public meal distribution.
The outbreak represents a setback for the newly launched free nutritious meals program, a flagship health initiative under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration aimed at addressing malnutrition and stunting across Indonesia. Implemented in January, the program delivers nutrient-rich meals to school-age children and at-risk groups throughout the country.
As of mid-March, the government had spent approximately $43 million (Rp 710.5 billion) to serve over 2 million recipients, including students and expectant mothers. The program operates with a budget of Rp 71 trillion and aims to reach 17.9 million people across the country.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading food poisoning lawyer said, “Mass food poisoning incidents like this one often raise concerns regarding the readiness of food suppliers and kitchens to handle the needs of large-scale food service. Whether serving two people or two-thousand, all food safety standards must be followed from start to finish.”
