At the 2016 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition today, Vice Premier Lin Hsi-yao pledged the government's continued efforts in promoting Taiwan cuisine to international tourists and making food safer and healthier for consumers.
Taiwan's food culture is recognized the world over, Lin said at the exhibition opening in Taipei. Aside from tasty foods, international tourists are also drawn to the island's friendly people, hospitality, safe public environment and convenient transportation.
The new administration has attached great importance to food safety since it took office in May, the vice premier said. During President Tsai Ing-wen's election campaign last year, she proposed several strategies that have today become the government's five major policies for strengthening food safety.
Foremost among the five policies is controlling the quality of food at the source of the supply, Lin explained. This is important because the public is most concerned about harmful chemicals that may have been added during the food production process. The new government is therefore setting up a toxins and chemical substances bureau and activating reserve funds to improve controls at the source.
Next most important is controlling the quality of food during the production process, the vice premier said, suggesting that inspection capacity for riskier substances such as pesticides in fruits and vegetables be expanded by as much as tenfold. Agencies should also amend regulations to impose stiffer punishment on unscrupulous food businesses. The new government's policy is that Taiwan's food should be not only delicious but also safe for consumers.
This year's culinary exhibition is the largest in Taiwan's history, full of special offerings, Vice Premier Lin said. He hoped that participants will enjoy Taiwan's culinary delights and tell their friends back home so that more people will come to know of Taiwan's fine food culture.