Around 2,000 students and teachers across Indonesia have fallen ill with food poisoning over the past three days, linked to the government's free school meals programme. The latest incident involved 777 people at a high school in Rembang, Central Java, according to the school’s headteacher. The meals are part of a multibillion-dollar initiative under President Prabowo Subianto, aimed at improving nutrition for schoolchildren. However, the programme has faced criticism over allegations of corruption and concerns about its high cost, in addition to being linked to multiple food poisoning cases. At the high school in Lasem, 752 students and 25 teachers experienced symptoms of food poisoning after eating meals provided through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme on Wednesday. Headteacher Juhartutik described the situation, noting that students had severe diarrhoea and had to use the school’s 40 toilets frequently. The school has since sent nearly 1,200 students and 95 staff members home, with several individuals being taken to the hospital. The government has pledged to cover medical costs, and the local food distributor has reportedly arrived to "take responsibility" for the incident. This outbreak follows another incident in Sidoarjo, East Java, where 730 people fell ill after consuming MBG meals at an Islamic boarding school on Tuesday. Local health officials reported that some students required hospital treatment, with some needing wheelchairs due to weakness. Similar cases have also been reported in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, where hundreds of students across multiple schools have been affected by suspected food poisoning linked to the programme. Food poisoning is often caused by improper storage or poor food preparation, which can lead the body to reject contaminated food. Parents and teachers have reported finding slimy chicken, undercooked food, and meals with a fishy smell. Local authorities are now investigating the cause of the outbreaks, with food samples being tested for possible contamination. The head of the food distribution unit in Lasem, Achmad Sholeh Syarifudin, has apologised and taken full responsibility for the incident, pledging a comprehensive evaluation of the programme’s operations. The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency warned that if negligence or criminal activity is found, the agency would not be able to help.