More than 500 students in East Java’s Sidoarjo region were hospitalized on Tuesday after falling ill with suspected food poisoning linked to state-supplied meals, regional officials reported. The hospital treated 512 students, according to Ketut Sumedana of the National Nutrition Agency (NNA), while local authorities in Sidoarjo confirmed that most of the affected students have since been discharged.

The free school meals programme, launched by President Prabowo Subianto last year, aims to combat undernutrition by providing meals to tens of millions of children nationwide. However, the initiative has faced ongoing challenges, including repeated incidents of food poisoning, allegations of corruption, shifting leadership, and concerns about its financial sustainability.

Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Dardak, said the NNA is investigating whether the meals served were the cause of the illness. Samples from the food consumed by students have been collected by police as part of the inquiry. Authorities have previously identified improper food storage and delayed delivery of cooked meals as common factors contributing to foodborne illnesses linked to the programme.

An education watchdog group, Network for Education Watch, has reported approximately 37,600 cases of food poisoning nationwide connected to the free meals scheme as of early August. These figures have intensified public scrutiny and criticism of the programme’s implementation and management.

The National Nutrition Agency has pledged to reform the programme under its new leadership, which took office following the arrest of a former agency head last June on corruption charges. Efforts have included the closure of several kitchen facilities that failed to meet safety and quality standards. Nevertheless, concerns remain over the programme’s large budget, which has contributed to an increase in the national fiscal deficit.

Public satisfaction with the scheme appears limited. A July survey conducted by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting found that only about one-third of respondents expressed approval, with food safety issues cited as a significant factor in dissatisfaction.

The National Nutrition Agency has not yet issued an official statement regarding the recent outbreak in Sidoarjo. The government’s review of the free meals programme continues amid calls for stricter oversight and improved food safety protocols to prevent further incidents.