By Ananda Teresia

JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia sees its ambitious programme of free school meals reaching just 72 million recipients by year-end, against an initial target of 83 million, the head of the national nutrition agency said on Thursday, as it scrambles to add kitchens.

Since the programme’s launch in January, it has been marred by cases of massive food poisoning, affecting more than 11,000 children nationwide, data from non-governmental organisation Network for Education Watch (JPPI) showed.

The agency, which runs the meals programme, put the figure lower, at 6,000 children by September, however.

Its head, Dadan Hindayana, said the free school meals would reach 83 million children by February 2026, and 70 million by year-end.

“I will do my best to reach it,” he told Reuters

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