PoliticsIndonesia's Prabowo plows on with free meal program despite public backlash
President says poisoning has affected only a tiny proportion of 1bn servings
Students receive treatment at a makeshift clinic in Indonesia's Bandung on Sept. 25. They are among thousands who suffered from food poisoning after eating government-financed free school meals. © Reuters
ISMI DAMAYANTI
October 3, 2025 12:24 JST
JAKARTA -- Alita, a 10-year-old elementary school pupil in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province, is not a picky eater. But she could not help complaining about the school lunch she received from the government's Free Nutritious Meal program, known by the local abbreviation MBG.