Taichung officials address school lunch supply and quality concerns

As the new school year approaches in Taichung, local officials and council members are addressing concerns regarding the quality and supply of free school lunches. To mark the start of the term, the city government has announced an incentive program providing extra meat and eggs to students during the first week.

However, concerns have been raised regarding a potential cooking oil shortage affecting catering providers. Following a ban on certain oil products from Chung Lian, some catering companies report low reserves, with several holding less than one week of supply. The Education Bureau stated that the central government is coordinating oil distribution to ensure stability and prevent meal quality from declining.

City council members are also calling for strict oversight to ensure that the transition to free lunches does not lead to cost-cutting measures, such as reducing the number of dishes per meal or substituting high-quality local organic ingredients for cheaper alternatives. Additionally, there are ongoing discussions regarding lunch subsidies for childcare workers in public kindergartens.