More than 2,000 students and teachers in Indonesia have fallen ill after eating meals provided through the government’s free school meal programme, prompting the country’s top human rights body to call for a police investigation.
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Friday urged police to investigate several recent food-poisoning outbreaks reported across different provinces. The commission also called on the National Nutrition Agency to temporarily suspend kitchens allegedly linked to the incidents.
More than 1,700 cases had already been reported across Central Java, East Java and West Sumatra earlier this week. In South Sulawesi’s Tana Toraja, around 170 students and teachers reportedly became ill after consuming meals distributed under the programme.
Komnas HAM said access to safe food is a human right and stressed that strict sanitation and food-safety standards are essential for a government programme designed to improve children’s nutrition. The commission warned that repeated food-safety failures could undermine public confidence in the initiative.
The free-meal programme was launched by President Prabowo Subianto in 2025 as part of efforts to tackle malnutrition among children. However, the programme has faced repeated food-poisoning incidents. Data cited by lawmaker Charles Honoris indicated that about 50,000 people had been affected by food-poisoning cases linked to the programme by September 1. Poor food storage and delays in meal delivery have been identified as recurring concerns.
The latest incidents have increased pressure on Indonesian authorities to strengthen food preparation, storage, transportation and hygiene standards to ensure that the programme does not put children’s health at risk.
