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.
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS