Sales of emergency rations have been on the rise, as public interest in emergency preparedness has increased, an official said on Sunday.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i (胡忠一), who has long promoted the purchase of emergency rations, said that local companies have introduced more than 50 types of ration products, which include ready-to-eat meals, rice dishes and shelf-stable instant soups, he said.
Hu urged the public to prioritize buying rations made from locally grown agricultural products, which are better suited to Taiwan’s hot climate.
Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times
Since 2021, the Agriculture and Food Agency has been encouraging domestic manufacturers to use locally grown products in the production of emergency and disaster-preparedness foods.
Hu, who used the head the agency, said that the decision to promote this initiative was influenced by both the COVID-19 pandemic and his years of experience in Japan.
“During the pandemic, people tended to cook at home, but many were limited by their rental housing conditions, such as a lack of kitchen facilities or an inability to cook,” he said.
While living in Japan, Hu said he observed that Japanese households had a strong awareness of disaster preparedness.
Local governments in Japan would even remind foreign residents to stock at least seven days’ worth of emergency food, he said.
After securing special funding from the Executive Yuan, he decided to launch a competition to attract manufacturers in Taiwan to develop such products.
“In the event of a disaster, water and power supplies might be cut off and transportation disrupted. Therefore, these foods must be shelf-stable and ready to eat as soon as they are opened,” Hu said.
Given the hot weather in Taiwan, plain noodles or rice might be too dry and difficult to consume, so he encouraged the development of ready-to-eat soups and similar items, he said.
Beyond preservation concerns, Hu said he also hoped that emergency foods would meet taste standards.
To this end, the agency partnered with the Food Industry Research and Development Institute to evaluate and select products that could be commercialized and penetrate the market.
Awards were given to the selected companies, which could only claim the second half of their prize money if their products make it to store shelves, Hu said.
Since the selected foods taste good and are easy to store, they have become popular not just as emergency rations, but also as occasional meal choices for small households and singles, he said, adding that sales have increased annually.
Many supermarkets and convenience store chains, seeing the positive market response, have set up dedicated sections for emergency foods and have been adding related products to their shelves.
Recently, many manufacturers have reported a surge in orders, he said.
“Taiwan, like Japan, often faces threats from earthquakes and typhoons. It is absolutely necessary for households and individuals to keep emergency food supplies on hand,” he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture would also encourage the development of shelf-stable ready-to-eat products made from locally sourced livestock and seafood to give consumers more options, he said.
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