(Central News Agency reporters Yeh Chen-yu and Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, August 6) Taipei Education Bureau Director-General Tang Chih-min yesterday responded to questions about food waste from school lunches by suggesting that leftover meals could be 'exchanged' with disadvantaged groups, sparking public controversy.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor Lin Liang-chun questioned during a legislative session yesterday about the current average of 4 to 5 tons of daily food waste from school lunches in Taipei. She asked whether the upcoming free school lunch policy would lead to even greater waste. In response, Director-General Tang said the idea of exchanging leftover meals with disadvantaged groups could be considered.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an, speaking to the media this morning before chairing a preparedness meeting for Typhoon Dolphin at the Taipei City Disaster Response Center, stated clearly: 'This will not happen.' The Education Bureau responded via media group messages that there is 'no plan' to provide food waste—meals already taken or consumed by students—for consumption. It also confirmed there is no plan to distribute meals to disadvantaged groups or social welfare organizations. The bureau had already sent guidelines to all schools on July 31 and will hold briefing sessions before the start of the school term. After school resumes, it plans to reduce food waste through diverse models.

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang, speaking to reporters after attending a party headquarters event this morning, said the suggestion to provide kitchen waste to disadvantaged groups was 'highly inappropriate.' He added that since school lunches became free, seafood-inclusive menus have led to bidding failures in many lunch procurement cases due to cost concerns. 'What citizens are most concerned about is whether children will continue to have nutritious lunches,' he said.

Shen said that food waste had not been properly managed in the past, leading to environmental hygiene issues. These are genuine concerns raised by citizens, and councilors raising these issues in the legislature aim to urge the city government to address them promptly. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150806

FACT BOX

  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Taiwan