Taipei's promise of free school lunches for every elementary and junior high student is running late, and four schools still have no supplier days before classes start.

• Mayor Chiang Wan-an promised all school lunch contracts would be awarded by August 21, but two contracts covering four schools are still unfinished.
• The city says 98.7% of contracts are done, with the last four schools due to be settled on August 24 and 26 — just days before the August 31 school start.
• Nearly 60% of schools had failed to attract bidders back in late July, and the city stopped posting progress updates after it hit 95%.
• The education department blames legal technicalities — bidding waiting periods and missing paperwork from suppliers.
• The delay drew criticism as the mayor spent the deadline day campaigning and touring food stalls in Chiayi.

Outlook: The city expects the last contracts to be signed before school opens, but parents and rivals will be watching whether meal quality holds up.