Nearly 2,000 people, mostly students, have fallen ill in a series of suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals program, raising renewed concerns over food safety as the government rapidly expands the initiative nationwide.

Officials said Saturday that approximately 1,950 students, teachers and pupils at Islamic boarding schools became sick after consuming meals distributed under the government-funded program, known by its Indonesian acronym MBG.

The suspected outbreaks occurred between Tuesday and Thursday across several provinces, including East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi.

The incidents represent another setback for Prabowo’s multibillion-dollar free meals initiative, which has continued to expand across Indonesia despite previous reports of food poisoning and allegations of corruption.

The largest outbreak was recorded in Rembang regency in Central Java, where 752 students and 25 teachers at State Senior High School 1 Lasem reported symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain after eating meals provided through the program.

Rembang Health Office chief Ali Syofi’i confirmed the illnesses as authorities investigated the cause.

In Sidoarjo, East Java, another 730 people were affected in a separate suspected food poisoning incident. Most of those who became ill were students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school.

Sidoarjo health official Lakhsmie Herawati Yuwantina said 706 of those affected had been discharged and were continuing their recovery at home.

The latest cases are expected to intensify scrutiny of food preparation, distribution and safety standards within the Free Nutritious Meals program as authorities work to determine the precise causes of the outbreaks.