Taiwanese agency promotes champion braised rice dishes, expects major boost in traceable rice use

Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency is partnering with major convenience store chains and food manufacturers to popularize rice-based meals, aiming to increase domestic rice consumption. The initiative centers around the "2nd Taiwan Braised Rice King Championship," highlighting winning dishes.

Two featured products include a "Champion Taiwanese Braised Pork with Shredded Cabbage" made with traceable Tainung No. 9 rice and pork, and a "Milkfish with Braised Pork" dish using Tainan No. 11 traceable rice. The latter, created by the Farglory Hotel Hualien, will be available at over 7,000 7-Eleven stores across Taiwan, offering a taste of Yilan's "Xilou" cuisine.

The agency forecasts sales of 350,000 servings, which is expected to drive the consumption of 40,000 kilograms of traceable rice. This effort aligns with a broader strategy to develop convenient, ready-to-eat rice products in response to the growing trend of dining out.

Officials also addressed concerns regarding cooking oil used in the products, assuring that suppliers confirmed the oil used was produced after July 7 and meets safety standards, following issues with certain batches from Zhonglian Oils in April. The "Champion Taiwanese Braised Pork with Shredded Cabbage" will be sold at Vanguard and A.mart stores.