Indonesian authorities are investigating a significant case of food poisoning affecting hundreds of individuals who had consumed free school lunches in Sragen, Central Java. This incident is considered the largest since the launch of President Prabowo Subianto’s free meals program, impacting over 1,000 people. Those affected experienced symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, and headaches, leading authorities to suspect contamination in the distributed food.
The contaminated meal reportedly included turmeric rice, omelet ribbons, fried tempeh, cucumber and lettuce salad, sliced apple, and boxed milk, prepared in a central kitchen and distributed to various schools in the region. As a response to the outbreak, the National Nutrition Agency has enforced higher kitchen operation and delivery standards and temporarily halted the distribution of free lunches from the affected kitchen pending lab results.
The free meals program, which has expanded to reach over 15 million recipients since its inception in January, aims to reach 83 million individuals by the end of the year, costing the government a significant amount. Various third-party catering services, including military bases, operate the 190 kitchens producing these meals across the country.
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