Over 1,000 children fall ill from free school lunches in Indonesia

The article reports that over 1,000 children in Indonesia have fallen ill after consuming free school lunches provided by the government's "nutritious meals programme". The programme, which costs billions of dollars, aims to provide healthy meals to students but has been marred by numerous instances of food poisoning. The incidents occurred in several provinces, with children experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Authorities have launched investigations to determine the cause of the illnesses, and some schools have temporarily suspended the meal service as a precautionary measure. The government's initiative, launched in 2019, has faced criticism for its poor implementation and lack of oversight, leading to concerns about the safety and quality of the food being served. The latest outbreak has sparked renewed calls for the programme to be thoroughly reviewed and improved to ensure the well-being of the students.