In Indonesia, nearly 2,000 students and teachers have fallen ill after consuming free meals provided in schools as part of a government program over the past three days.
Modern.az reports that, according to the BBC, local authorities are investigating possible mass food poisoning cases related to the incidents.
The latest incident was recorded at a high school in Lasem, Central Java province. On Wednesday, after lunch, 752 students and 25 teachers showed symptoms of poisoning.
According to the school's principal, Juhartutik, those who fell ill mainly experienced diarrhea and abdominal pain.
“They had diarrhea and were using the toilet in turns. There are a total of 40 toilets, so it cannot accommodate everyone,” the principal told BBC News Indonesia.
Following the incident, the school sent approximately 1,200 students and 95 staff members home. Several people were hospitalized. The government has promised to cover their medical expenses. The local food supplier has also announced its readiness to take responsibility for what happened.
A day earlier, about 730 people fell ill at an Islamic boarding school in East Java province after consuming the same free meals. Some students were in such serious condition that they were taken to the hospital in wheelchairs.
In schools in South Sulawesi province, several hundred more people complained of poisoning symptoms. Parents and teachers reported slimy chicken, undercooked food, and an unpleasant fish smell in the meals.
The exact cause of the poisonings has not yet been determined. Local authorities are testing food samples for possible contamination. Initial suspicions include improper storage and preparation of food.
