Changhua County is putting NT$1.3 billion a year into free school lunches and milk, good news for 89,000 students and their families as food costs keep rising.

• Every elementary and junior high student in the county eats lunch for free, funded by NT$1 billion of county money.
• Another NT$1 billion covers fresh milk, leaning on Changhua's big dairy farming base.
• Because food prices keep climbing, the per-meal budget was raised, with extra money for schools that buy certified local produce.
• Central kitchens are doing trial cooking runs before term starts, checking equipment and testing meat for banned additives.

Outlook: Schools across the county are set to serve full meals from the first day of the new term.