Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
According to a report by United Daily News, 75% of the food sold in cooperatives at elementary and middle schools across various counties and cities do not meet regulations. These include "three highs" (high fat, high sugar, high salt) red-light foods that are easily accessible, posing serious health risks to students.
The Consumer Protection Commission conducted a spot check in March and April this year, targeting 28 elementary and middle schools in six counties and cities across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Apart from 100% dairy products and mineral water, out of the 356 snacks and beverages sampled, a staggering 268 items were found to be non-compliant. Among these, 11 items did not even label the product contents, ingredients, or expiration dates, severely violating the Food Sanitation Management Act. However, students can easily purchase these items on campus, as school authorities have not taken responsibility for safeguarding students' health.
Consumer Protection Officer Wu Zhengxue stated that while there has been noticeable improvement in hygiene and safety in the sampled items, with no expired products found on shelves, the gap between urban and rural areas and insufficient advocacy have led to more severe violations in Taitung County. For instance, three items, including "Big Pig" snacks and lollipop gummies with excessive coloring, were found to be sold without proper labeling, constituting serious violations.
Faced with a wide array of snacks and beverages, many students consume high-fat potato chips and sugary juice drinks as meals, contributing to a trend of younger children developing overweight and chronic health issues.
The Consumer Protection Commission noted that regulations on the "Scope of Beverage and Snack Sales in Schools" were established for elementary and middle schools in 2005. However, schools have not taken these regulations seriously or implemented them effectively, leading to the prevalence of red-light foods on campuses. Zhou Yiheng, CEO of the John Tung Foundation, urged the Ministry of Education to demonstrate greater enforcement and strict oversight.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ 060515/ 15/ 352f5. html
High-Fat, High-Sugar, High-Salt Foods Flood Schools
The Consumer Protection Commission conducted a spot check in March and April this year, targeting 28 elementary and middle schools in six counties and cities across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Apart from 100% dairy products and mineral water, out of the 356 snacks and beverages sampled, a staggering 268 items were found to be non-compliant. Among these, 11 items did not even label the product contents, ingredients, or expiration dates, severely violating the Food Sanitation Management Act. However, students can easily purchase these items on campus, as school authorities have not taken responsibility for safeguarding students' health.
Consumer Protection Officer Wu Zhengxue stated that while there has been noticeable improvement in hygiene and safety in the sampled items, with no expired products found on shelves, the gap between urban and rural areas and insufficient advocacy have led to more severe violations in Taitung County. For instance, three items, including "Big Pig" snacks and lollipop gummies with excessive coloring, were found to be sold without proper labeling, constituting serious violations.
Faced with a wide array of snacks and beverages, many students consume high-fat potato chips and sugary juice drinks as meals, contributing to a trend of younger children developing overweight and chronic health issues.
The Consumer Protection Commission noted that regulations on the "Scope of Beverage and Snack Sales in Schools" were established for elementary and middle schools in 2005. However, schools have not taken these regulations seriously or implemented them effectively, leading to the prevalence of red-light foods on campuses. Zhou Yiheng, CEO of the John Tung Foundation, urged the Ministry of Education to demonstrate greater enforcement and strict oversight.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ 060515/ 15/ 352f5. html