In Brief
- Mass Food Poisoning: Around 2,000 students and teachers across multiple provinces suffered illness after consuming government-provided school meals.
- Widespread Outbreaks: Outbreaks affected regions including Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi, Central Java, East Java, and West Sumatra.
- Call for Police Probe: Komnas HAM urged law enforcement to investigate and called on the National Nutrition Agency to suspend the kitchens responsible.
- Human Rights Concerns: The rights body emphasized that access to safe food is a fundamental human right essential for the legitimacy of state nutrition efforts.
Indonesia’s national human rights commission, Komnas HAM, has urged law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate investigation after roughly 2,000 students and teachers fell ill across several provinces following the consumption of free school lunches. The affected meals were distributed under the national free meal program designed to curb childhood malnutrition.
Recent incidents include 170 individuals falling ill in South Sulawesi's Tana Toraja region on September 3, adding to over 1,700 reported cases spread across Central Java, East Java, and West Sumatra. Komnas HAM called for the immediate suspension of operations at the involved catering facilities while demanding strict sanitation standards to ensure student safety.
