Around 2,000 fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals

Around 2, 000 students and teachers throughout Indonesia have fallen ill with food poisoning over the past three days linked to the government's free school meals programme.

Key points

• While a number of were taken to hospital, the school has since sent almost 1, 200 pupils and 95 members of staff home.
• In the latest case, 777 individuals became unwell after consuming the food at a high school in Rembang, Central Java, the institution's headteacher stated.
• The meals were provided through a multibillion-dollar scheme that is one of President Prabowo Subianto's signature policies, aiming to improve nutrition for Indonesia's schoolchildren.
• The head of the food distribution unit in Lasem, Achmad Sholeh Syarifudin, apologised and took "full responsibility for the recovery of students and teachers".
• "They had diarrhoea and took turns using the toilet, " headteacher Juhartutik informed BBC News Indonesia.

Notably, the meals were provided through a multibillion-dollar scheme that is one of President Prabowo Subianto's signature policies, aiming to improve nutrition for Indonesia's schoolchildren.

As well as being the suspected source of a string of mass food poisonings, the programme has been dogged by allegations of corruption and criticism of its cost, but.

Meanwhile, a total of 752 students and 25 teachers experienced symptoms of food poisoning after eating meals provided through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme at the high school in Lasem on Wednesday lunchtime.

"They had diarrhoea and took turns using the toilet, " headteacher Juhartutik informed BBC News Indonesia. "There are 40 toilets in total, so they can't accommodate everyone."

Juhartutik remarked the administration would cover any medical costs and that the local food distributor had come to the school to "take responsibility".

For context, the suspected outbreak came after 730 individuals fell ill after consuming MBG meals at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Tuesday, a local health official stated.

Reni remarked their child felt dizzy and nauseous before developing stomach difficulties after eating the meal.

Some of those affected required hospital treatment, with some students being transported in wheelchairs since they were too fragile to stand.

Hundreds of others have been affected by suspected cases of food poisoning linked to the free school meals this week, including hundreds throughout a number of schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi.

Improper storage or poorly prepared food are often to blame for cases of food poisoning, in which the body rejects the contaminated food.

As well as food that appeared undercooked and had a fishy odour, parents and teachers have remarked to journalists of slimy chicken.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the suspected outbreaks, with food samples being tested for feasible contamination.

For context, the head of the food distribution unit in Lasem, Achmad Sholeh Syarifudin, apologised and took "full responsibility for the recovery of students and teachers".

He remarked the unit would conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its operation after the incident.

For context, the head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency has remarked: "If it is identified that there was negligence and there are criminal elements, I apologise, we cannot help."

In short, around 2, 000 fall ill in Indonesia after eating free school meals is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.