NO FEWER THAT 400 CHILDREN HAVE BECOME ILL AFTER EATING FREE SCHOOL MEALS IN INDONESIA’S WESTERN BENGKULU PROVINCE.
THIS IS THE WORST CASE OF MASS FOOD POISONING LINKED TO PRESIDENT PRABOWO SUBIANTO’S FLAGSHIP FOOD PROGRAMME TO HELP PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
BENGKULU PROVINCE’S VICE GOVERNOR, MIAN REPORTED THE MASS ILLNESS, ASSURING THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED INTO THE CAUSE.
PRESIDENT SUBIANTO LAUNCHED THE FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMME IN JANUARY, EXPANDING TO REACH MORE THAN 20 MILLION RECIPIENTS, BUT THE INITIATIVE HAD ALREADY BEEN MARRED BY FOOD POISONING THAT AFFECTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL NUTRITION AGENCY, WHICH RUNS THE PROGRAMME, DADAN HINDAYANA, URGED KITCHEN STAFF TO EVALUATE THEIR SERVICES WHILE WAITING FOR RESULTS OF TESTS ON THE FOOD.
