Around 200 students across Surabaya city in East Java province experienced food poisoning after eating meals provided under a government free food program.
According to local media reports on Sunday, 17 May 2026, over 200 students from 12 kindergartens, primary, and junior high schools in the Tembok Dukuh district fell ill after having free lunch supplied by the government program on 11 May.
Most students complained of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. While most only required initial medical examination, some needed treatment at Surabaya’s IBI Mother and Child Hospital.
Tiyas Pranadani, head of the Tembok Dukuh Community Health Service Center, confirmed that the suspected food poisoning was linked to free meals distributed solely by the Nutrition Procurement Service Unit (SPPG).
“Several schools received meals from the same SPPG unit, and almost all reported complaints, with nearly everyone showing symptoms of illness,” Tiyas said at the entrance hall of IBI Hospital, according to Sunday’s media coverage.
“Based on our follow-up and teachers’ reports, the meals usually contain no meat,” she noted. “Therefore, it’s possible the cause might be meat, since previously students never ate meat.”
Officials have collected food samples and sent them to the Health Laboratory Center (BBLK) for testing. Coordination is ongoing with Surabaya public health authorities to identify the exact cause of the illnesses among the children.
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Source:cna