The Taipei Department of Health yesterday announced that chain coffee shops have been added to its online food ingredient registration platform, allowing people to check information about the beverages bought at 16 chain coffee shops in the city.
As drinking coffee has become a daily habit for many Taiwanese, the department said it invited 556 branches of 16 popular chain coffee shops to participate in its online food safety traceability platform, Food Tracer Taipei (foodtracer.taipei.gov.tw).
Chain coffee shops and bakeries were added to the platform to help people feel safer when they eat out, Taipei Department of Health Commissioner Huang Shier-chieg (黃世傑) said.
The nation’s coffee market is worth about NT$60 billion (US$2 billion) annually, so popular chain coffee shops were asked to provide transparent information to consumers, the department’s Food and Drug Division head Wang Ming-li (王明理) said.
The chain coffee shops include Starbucks Coffee, Cama Cafe, Mr Brown Cafe, Louisa Coffee, 85°C Daily Cafe, Barista Coffee, Ecoffee, Dante Coffee, Crown & Fancy Coffee House, Oklao Specialy Coffe and Ikari Coffee.
Information on a total of 2,347 types of ingredients used in 869 products, including their source of origin, allergens they contain, packaging materials, examination reports and other items, can be found on the platform.
The department also said 44 bakeries have voluntarily registered 1,204 sources of ingredients and 485 examination reports on the platform.
The bakeries include Imei, Hsin Tung Yang, Olympia, E.G-Sain, Shun Chen Bakery, I JY Sheng, Sun Merry, Yamazaki, Aunt Stella, Gino Pasco, Mister Donut, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Bread & Pastries.
The department said the platform also has a link to the Food and Drug Administration’s food and drug rumor clarification Web site on its front page, through which people can access accurate information about rumors on food and drug products.
A food safety information section allows people to learn about food labeling regulations and calories and nutrition, as well as to check whether restaurants or food companies are legally registered, it said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS