Yunlin school children's nutritious lunch changed to "rice noodles"

The amount of rice consumed by the Taiwanese is decreasing, which may lead to an imbalance between production and sales. Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen has taken the lead in promoting rice and, in collaboration with the Taiwan Rice and Grain Business Association, has taken the lead in changing the pasta used in elementary school lunches throughout the county to "rice noodles" made from rice.

Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chi-fen (2nd from left) took the lead in responding to the Taiwan Rice and Grain Merchants Association and will promote "rice noodles" made from rice in school children's nutritious lunches. (Photo courtesy of Yunlin County Government)

Wu Yuanchang, chairman of the Taiwan Rice and Grain Merchants Association, said that Taiwan's rice consumption has been declining year by year, and rice exports have been hindered. It is necessary to find ways to increase the amount of rice consumed by the people. Therefore, referring to Japan's practices, they have developed rice-based "rice noodles", egg rolls, pineapple cakes, egg yolk cakes and other products. He also brought "rice noodles" to visit Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen, hoping that the nutritious lunches for Yunlin County's elementary and middle schools could use rice noodles.

This suggestion received a friendly response from the Yunlin County Government. After tasting the rice noodles, County Magistrate Su Chih-fen said that the noodles made from rice were chewy and delicious, and she believed that elementary school students would definitely like them. Education Director Qiu Xiaowen said that a school-wide tasting will first be held at Beigang Nanyang Elementary School, and will be further promoted throughout the county in the future so that all schoolchildren can eat rice noodles made from local rice.

Su Chi-fen said that Yunlin County is a major rice producing area, and promoting rice is to help Yunlin's farmers. This week she will meet with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, and she will also visit Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin to ask the two metropolitan areas to respond and increase rice consumption together.