Food poisoning outbreak mars Indonesian president’s flagship free meal program

Dozens of children fall ill during rollout of program that was a centrepiece of President Prabowo Subianto's election campaign

Dozens of Indonesian schoolchildren have suffered food poisoning after consuming free meals offered through a new flagship program of President Prabowo Subianto, his office has confirmed.

Rolled out this month, Prabowo's multi-billion dollar policy was a centrepiece of the former general's election campaign, with a pledge to reach 82.9 million children and pregnant women out of the country's population of 280 million by 2029.