In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto is vigorously defending his ambitious free meals initiative aimed at providing nourishment to children and pregnant women, despite facing significant backlash over a series of food poisoning incidents. The programme, launched in January 2024, has rapidly expanded to serve an impressive number of recipients, yet recent events have raised serious concerns.
Food Poisoning Cases Ignite Outcry
Nearly 6,000 individuals have reported illnesses linked to the free meal programme, with over 1,000 children affected in West Java alone. The National Nutrition Agency has cited a lack of proper oversight and inconsistency in food preparation as critical errors leading to the outbreaks. Nanik Deyang, the agency’s deputy head, expressed regret, admitting, “Our biggest mistake is… our lack of oversight.” This has sparked recommendations from health organisations for the programme’s suspension as investigations get underway.
Ambitious Goals and Challenges
- Current Reach: The initiative has reached approximately 30 million recipients, with a target of 83 million by the end of 2024.
- Budget Concerns: Prabowo has allocated a budget of 335 trillion rupiah (approximately S$25.89 billion) for the next year
- Food Quality Measures: Following the incidents, kitchens involved in the programme are being mandated to adopt stricter food quality measures, including rapid testing equipment and enhanced surveillance.
Government Response to the Crisis
In response to the food poisoning crisis, Prabowo announced immediate steps to improve food safety controls—including installing CCTV at kitchens to ensure compliance with health standards. Despite the serious nature of the food poisoning incidents, he remarked, “Yes, there were shortcomings. But a human endeavour of this magnitude… has never been undertaken before.” He’s keen on ensuring that the programme not only feeds children but also supports local economies by creating job opportunities.
As investigations proceed, the National Nutrition Agency has already closed 40 kitchens for failing to meet required health standards. The government is set on rectifying the situation while balancing the public’s demand for accountability and the need for this critical programme’s continuation.