Eat out for extra protection and choose high-quality local ingredients from CAS

With the change of social patterns, the proportion and number of people eating out are increasing, and the issue of "food safety" has become more of a concern for consumers. Witnessed by the Council of Agriculture, the Taiwan Fine Agricultural Products Development Association (CAS Association) and Wangpin Group's "Shi Er Guo Restaurant" have collaborated to launch the "Hold Your Health with CAS" campaign from now until October 6, hoping that Taiwanese people can purchase high-quality local ingredients and eat delicious and healthy meals. (Video/Photographer Huang Zhiwen)

Lin Ziqing, Chief of the Food Processing Section of the Animal Husbandry Department of the Council of Agriculture, pointed out that CAS high-quality agricultural products use fresh, high-quality domestic raw materials, and trace the source of raw materials for each batch of products through production management records to ensure product safety and provide consumers with hygienic and safe high-quality agricultural products. Currently, more than 6,000 CAS products have passed verification, and we hope that Chinese people can purchase high-quality local ingredients and eat delicious and healthy food.

Cai Jifang, a food shopping expert, said that there are many benefits to buying locally produced fruits and vegetables. Not only can it prevent the fruits and vegetables from being damaged by collisions and rot during long-distance transportation, it is also beneficial for preserving nutrients and maintaining optimal freshness. For example, water-soluble vitamin C or B complex can easily be lost during transportation. For common frozen vegetables, if they are repeatedly heated, their nutrients will be destroyed.

In addition, food can easily deteriorate and toxins can be produced during storage and transportation. For example, rice and wheat ingredients such as barley, wheat, cereals, beans, corn, peanuts, etc., can produce aflatoxin and mold if the storage temperature and humidity are not properly managed. Once these toxins are produced, they cannot be eliminated by heating, and eating them has a great impact on health. In addition, certain specific fish species such as bonito, saury, mackerel, etc., if not properly refrigerated, will also produce high levels of histamine, which will cause allergies, gastrointestinal symptoms, shock and other discomforts.

Yang Shipei, chairman of the CAS Association, emphasized that the purpose is to encourage catering operators to use safe ingredients and provide a new healthy choice for eat-out consumers. This time we are launching a CAS ingredient restaurant cooking event. Consumers can participate in the great deals and receive generous gifts by visiting the CAS website (http://www.cas.org.tw), CAS Happy Group Buying Network (http:/www.casmall.com.tw) or CAS Fans Group (https://www.facebook.com/casmall.tw) and other online platforms.

During the event, Shi Er Guo Restaurant will promote two types of hotpots, "Premium Pork Hotpot" and "Cherry Duck Hotpot" for consumers to choose from. Both hotpots use pork, duck, enoki mushrooms, rice blood cake and rice that are certified by CAS, so that people who often eat out have a healthier and safer choice. It is hoped that through such cooperation, more catering and group catering operators will follow suit, protect the health of the people, and improve the overall catering quality and image.