The recent African swine fever scare has impacted pork sales all around Taiwan, but veterinarians and government officials assure the public that Taiwanese pork dishes are delicious and safe to eat.

A pig farm in Taichung City recently tested positive for African swine fever, triggering a wave of public concern over food safety. Central African Swine Fever Forward Response Center Commander and Deputy Agriculture Minister Tu Wen-jane (杜文珍) states that recent monitoring and visits indicate no other outbreaks in Taiwan. She assures the public that the disease is not zoonotic and that there are no known food safety issues.

Among the many pork recipes in Taiwan, braised pork rice (魯肉飯) attracts countless foreign tourists in addition to being a loved local favorite. Musical artist WaverLAB even produced a song named after the dish. He raps that he’s been eating it since childhood, he’s never been afraid of it, and it's just that exaggerated.

The quality of Taiwanese pork is crucial to the country’s pride. Taipei Veterinary Medical Association Vice President Yang Ching-yu (楊靜宇) details that farmers have blended Yorkshire, Duroc, and other breeds with traditional Taiwanese pigs to achieve the pork everyone loves today. Yang says that Taiwanese pork boasts excellent quality, both domestically and internationally.

Agricultural technology has significantly contributed to the popularity of Taiwanese pork and the safety of its production, so make sure to pig out on a pork dish for your next meal.