School lunch subsidies to increase in Taiwan, with added milk and fruit

Legislator Ho Hsin-chun has announced a significant upgrade to Taiwan's school lunch program, proposing an increase in subsidies and enhanced nutritional content to ensure students receive healthy and high-quality meals.

Ho unveiled the "2380 Free School Lunch Upgrade" policy, which aims to raise the subsidy standard per meal from NT$70 to NT$80. This increase is crucial as schools across Taichung have faced difficulties in tendering for lunch services, with some forced to reduce meals from four dishes and one soup to three. The proposal also mandates the inclusion of fresh milk twice a week, year-round, and fruit three times a week, addressing concerns that the quality of free school lunches might be compromised.

Political opponents have criticized the current administration for its slow response to the issue, suggesting that the free lunch policy was only adopted after Taipei's mayor announced a similar initiative. Ho's proposal goes beyond just increasing the subsidy; it also expands the free lunch program to include administrative staff directly involved in meal provision and management. Furthermore, it allocates funds to support catering companies and food suppliers in improving cold chain logistics and transportation, strengthening food traceability, and ensuring food safety.

The initiative seeks to combat the impact of rising ingredient, labor, and transportation costs, which have made it challenging for schools and caterers to maintain meal quality and quantity. By raising the subsidy and ensuring consistent provision of milk and fruit, Ho aims to guarantee that students receive nutritious meals that support their health and development, even as food prices continue to climb.