Tainan Councilor Urges School Lunch Procurement Reform, Cites Quality Concerns

Tainan City Councilor Lin Yan-chu has called for a review of the school lunch procurement system, expressing concern that intense price competition may compromise the quality of ingredients and overall meal standards. She suggested that the city government collaborate with the agriculture bureau to boost the procurement of local vegetables, aiming for over 30% of the total to ensure healthier and safer meals for students.

“

campus free school lunch procurement system still has the problem of excessive price competition, worried about affecting ingredient and catering quality, even leading to increased food waste, suggested the city government review the procurement mechanism, and cooperate with the agriculture bureau across departments, to increase the procurement ratio of local leafy and root vegetables to more than 30%, so that students can eat healthier and more assuredly.

The Tainan City Education Bureau stated that school lunch procurement adheres to government regulations, with selection criteria extending beyond just price to include ingredient quality, supply capability, food safety management, and inspection mechanisms. The bureau emphasized that it is not solely based on the lowest bid. They have established menu review, quality control, and inter-departmental inspection systems, requiring suppliers to provide traceable ingredients that meet standards like "3 Stars 1 Quality."

“

each school's lunch procurement is handled in accordance with the Government Procurement Act and relevant regulations, in addition to considering reasonable prices, the selection also includes ingredient quality, supply capacity, food safety management, and acceptance mechanisms, and it is not simply awarded to the lowest bidder.

The bureau also highlighted its ongoing partnership with the agriculture bureau to promote organic vegetables, products with traceability, and local produce. In 2025, local vegetables accounted for 29.4% of school lunches, and fruits reached 46.8%, exceeding targets. The bureau cited Jinxue Elementary School's success in reducing vegetable procurement costs by approximately 25% through joint purchasing while maintaining quality and stable supply, leading to improved student satisfaction.

“

vegetables have reached 29.4%, and fruits have reached 46.8%, both higher than the established goals.

Furthermore, the education bureau reported significant progress in reducing food waste. Since November of the previous year, the average daily food waste per student has decreased from 60 grams to 32-34 grams, with total daily waste dropping from 8,100 kg to 5,623 kg, a reduction of about 45%.

“

the total food waste has dropped from 8,100 kilograms per day to 5,623 kilograms, a reduction of about 45%.