Taichung’s free nutritious lunch provokes controversy: MPs criticize the double-main course policy as a show, and the quality of the dishes is questioned

Free nutritious lunches for elementary and middle schools in Taichung are on the road. Mayor Lu Xiuyan has launched a "one-week limited" meal with two main dishes for the first day of school. On the first day, the whole city will eat "L-shaped large chicken drumsticks". However, from this week onwards, the dishes have returned to "normal". Several council members pointed out that many parents have reported Students said that lunches have become unpalatable, describing lunches without two main dishes as "falling from heaven to hell", and that the "limited two main dishes for one week" are simply a show off. In addition, the number of schools with three dishes and one soup in the city has increased from 60% to 90%, and "four dishes are almost impossible", demanding a review by the Education Bureau.

Lu Xiuyan pushed for extra lunches limited to the "first week" of school. In the first week, there are three days of extra lunches with double entrees. She also designated "L-shaped Taiwanese large chicken drumsticks on the first day." From this week, nutritious lunches will return to normal without double entrees. DPP City Councilor Wang Li Ren pointed out that many parents reported that their children's lunches have become unpalatable, and even described the dishes at self-paid lunches as "human". The lunches in the first week of school were like "heaven", and the current free lunches without double main courses were like "falling into hell". It was completely ironic.

Jiang Zhaoguo, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, even denounced that on the first day of school, the whole city ate "L-shaped large chicken drumsticks", which caused the catering operators to rush to grab chicken drumsticks just to satisfy Lu Xiuyan's personal show and hype. From the second week on, there was no double main course, and the Education Bureau actually ordered a "unified menu" for the whole city for one month, which caused group catering operators to rush to grab meat and vegetables, which was dumbfounding.

Wang Liren and Jiang Zhaoguo were also concerned. Many parents reported that the school originally provided 4 dishes and 1 soup, but after free nutritious lunches were introduced, 3 dishes and 1 soup were left. The city government budgeted more than 4 billion every year to provide free nutritious lunches, which should be strictly controlled. Jiang Zhaoguo and KMT councilors Li Zhong and Zhang Liao Nailun emphasized that 4 dishes or 3 dishes is not a problem, but quality and deliciousness are the key points. Councilor Zhang Jia'un also said that even tutors are required to weigh the food waste of each class every day, and free lunches are a disguised punishment for teachers.

Director of Education Jiang Weimin pointed out that before the free policy came into effect, about 60% of school lunches had three dishes and one soup. Some people have discussed with the industry in the hope of maintaining the original four-course school lunch specifications. Unless the school lunch committee decides to adjust to three dishes, the current ratio of three dishes and one soup is about 90%. The school will continue to monitor the quality of lunches. Since the school has only been open for two weeks, the quality of lunches has yet to be seen. People have asked the Education Bureau to submit a review report after the implementation of free nutritious lunches for one semester.