TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's capital city unveiled an ambitious nutrition initiative Monday (April 14), offering free fresh milk to tens of thousands of schoolchildren across Taipei. Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) pledged rigorous oversight of the distribution system, describing the program as a cornerstone of the administration's efforts to improve childhood nutrition and development.
The program initiated its pilot phase just one week ago, enabling elementary school students to redeem a weekly bottle of dairy or soy milk at six participating retail chains using specialized digital student cards. Officials have now expanded eligibility to include kindergarteners. Taipei's Department of Education (台北市教育局) reports distributing more than 55,000 digital cards citywide and conducting nearly 1,000 verification calls to ensure families understand the redemption process.
Education Commissioner Tang Chih-min (湯志民) conducted a hands-on demonstration at a local kindergarten Monday, personally showing teachers and administrators effective methods for helping young children redeem their milk benefits. Officials have issued practical guidance for parents, recommending they photograph both sides of the digital cards immediately upon receipt to facilitate replacement if cards are misplaced. The department clarified that when students transfer between Taipei kindergartens, their existing cards remain functional, though parents must update registration information at their child's new school. ★