Major retailers and hypermarkets yesterday moved quickly to reassure consumers about the safety of pork and supply stability after authorities reported the nation’s first case of African swine fever (ASF).
Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) announced the case at a news conference yesterday, saying that 195 pigs had been culled after samples from dead animals on a farm in Taichung’s Wuci District (梧棲) tested positive for ASF.
The farm was known to use kitchen waste for feed, he said, adding that an investigation is under way to determine how the virus entered the premises.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung City Government
To contain a potential outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture launched several emergency measures, and a response command post has been set up in Taichung, with nationwide farm inspections under way.
Leading supermarket chains — including PX Mart, Carrefour and A-mart — emphasized that all pork sold in their stores is sourced from certified local farms and slaughterhouses that comply with government disease-control and food safety regulations.
They also vowed to maintain stable supplies of pork throughout the government’s order to halt slaughtering for five days.
A-mart said its pork primarily comes from Taiwan Sugar Corp and registered farms in Pingtung County, all of which meet animal health and inspection standards.
The retailer pledged to maintain sufficient stock in its stores and monitor official updates to adjust sourcing as needed.
PX Mart said all pork sold in its stores comes from contract farms and certified slaughterhouses with full traceability and veterinary supervision during the slaughter process.
In a similar statement, Carrefour said its chilled and frozen Taiwanese pork products are sourced from traceable partner farms under strict health monitoring.
The company added that it regularly audits qualified slaughterhouses and would continue to ensure a steady supply of pork while adhering to food safety regulations.
Meanwhile, health experts reassured the public that ASF does not pose a risk to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to people.
They advised consumers to buy only certified pork and ensure it is thoroughly cooked.
Yen Tzung-hai (顏宗海), director of the Clinical Toxicology Center at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that ASF affects only pigs and wild boars, not humans.
While the disease is not zoonotic, it can cause mass pig deaths in a short period and severe economic losses, he said.
Yen added that pork should always be cooked thoroughly to prevent other illnesses.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
RSS