Taitung County launches free public school lunches
台東推出公立學校免費營養午餐
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taitung County began providing free school lunches to all public elementary and junior high school students this semester, CNA reported Monday.
UDN reported that Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) visited Guang Ming Elementary School on the first day of the new term to inspect meal service. She said the county will continue to monitor ingredients to ensure students eat safely and healthily. Yao said the county maintained fiscal discipline and cleared its debt, allowing it to roll out the program one semester earlier than Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. She said the policy aims to reduce parents’ financial burden and improve public welfare in Taitung. The county’s Education Department said about 15,400 people will benefit, including public elementary and junior high school students, homeroom teachers, and lunch administrators who assist with meal service. It said including frontline education staff recognizes their daily support for students. During the visit, Yao spoke with students and reminded them not to waste food and to finish their meals to help protect the environment. Students said the food tasted good and that their parents were happy they no longer had to pay lunch fees. The Education Department said meals use domestically sourced, traceable ingredients to ensure food safety and balanced nutrition. Authorities will also conduct hygiene inspections and random checks of elementary and junior high schools and their catering providers to maintain safety standards. |
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| Lai Jyun-tang Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-02-23 |
